Cathy Lynn Gonzalez

Cathy was born August 24th, 1954 in Ft. Worth TX to Benjamin and Mildred (Pietzsch) Wagner, their only daughter and the second of three children. She was baptized September 19th, 1954 at Redeemer Lutheran Church of Fort Worth, the first baby to be baptized at the newly built church. She was later confirmed there into the Lutheran faith as a teenager.

Cathy graduated from Western Hills High School on June 3rd, 1972, and went on to graduate magna cum laude from the University of Texas in Arlington with a bachelor’s of science degree from the University of Texas in nursing in 1976. She worked for over 40 years as a NICU nurse at Cook Children’s Medical Center, impacting the lives of thousands over the course of her career.

She met her husband Jerry while attending nursing school at UTA. They married on September 4th, 1982. In 1984 they welcomed their daughter Lyndsey, followed by son Nathan in 1987 and son Kevin in 1992. As a family, they enjoyed simply spending time together, whether traveling on summer vacations to the mountains of Red River New Mexico, visiting the Alamo for the hundredth time, partaking in school and sports activities, working in the yard, traveling to her family’s farm in Hamilton County TX, spending time with extended family, watching their favorite sitcoms and game shows, and eating supper together around the kitchen table.

As a grandmother, Cathy was affectionately known as “Grammie” and delighted in her grandchildren. She and Jerry spent many of the last several years visiting them often to see school programs, sports tournaments, dance performances, taking trips to the park, hiking in the mountains, teaching them board games, reading them stories, and watching them take their first steps.

Cathy excelled at making her home feel inviting and comfortable. She enjoyed creating beautiful spaces, whether that was with small painting and art projects, sprucing up her yard with flowers and shrubs, teaching her children and grandchildren songs on the piano, or relaxing in the afternoons with a good mystery or historical fiction book. Every holiday, birthday, and anniversary was celebrated - she made sure that every single person in her family felt special and loved.

Her desire to help others was life-long, from volunteering as a candy striper at the local hospital as a teen, volunteering at Redeemer Lutheran School as a school board member and librarian while her children attended there, spending time with friends while helping with Samaritan’s Purse Operation Christmas Child, providing blood pressure checks for those in need in her community, and so much more.

Cathy was a lifelong member of Redeemer Lutheran Church. Together, she and Jerry attended regularly and raised their children there. Over the years, Cathy enjoyed building up the church library for many to enjoy. Her quiet, steady faith in Jesus Christ gave her family a strong foundation, a legacy that will continue for generations. Despite missing her dearly, her family has Jesus’ peace that passes all understanding knowing that they will one day see her again.

Her favorite Bible verse was Philippians 4:13 - I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

Cathy was preceded in death by her parents Benjamin and Mildred Wagner, father and mother-in-law Jose and Elena Gonzalez, and niece Jaime Cruce.

She is survived by her loving husband Jerry Gonzalez, daughter Lyndsey and son-in-law Wade Slaton of Cedar Park, TX, son Dr. Nathan Gonzalez and daughter-in-law Brittany Gonzalez of Mexia, TX, son Kevin and daughter-in-law Bethany Gonzalez of Colorado Springs, CO, grandchildren Wyatt, Witt, Eve, Ward, and Emma Slaton, Chloe, Lucas, and Micah Gonzalez, Oliver and baby Peter Gonzalez due this spring, brother Robert Wagner and sister-in-law Linda of Burleson, TX, brother Paul Wagner of Ft. Worth, TX, brother and sister-in-law Joe and Pam Gonzalez of Spring, TX, sister-in-law Delores Cruce, brother-in-law Roy Gonzalez, brother and sister-in-law Michael and Maricel Gonzalez, and many much loved nephews, nieces, great nephews and great nieces, aunts, cousins, and dear friends who collectively will remember her as kind, loving, and wonderful.

An avid reader, Cathy instilled a deep love of reading in her children and grandchildren. The Cathy Gonzalez Memorial Library Fund will be set up in her honor to fund library books for children attending Limestone Christian Academy, a Christian classical school started in part by her son and daughter-in-law, Nathan and Brittany, and attended by grandchildren Chloe, Lucas and Micah.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made by check to Limestone Christian Academy PTO, PO Box 13, Thorton, TX 76687, noted “Cathy Gonzalez Memorial Library”.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, March 29th at 2pm at Redeemer Lutheran Church 4513 Williams Rd, Fort Worth, TX 76116.