José Francisco González-Jauregui

José, 84, of Houston, Texas, went peacefully to join his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on March 19, 2024. José was born in México City on 15 December 1939. After his move from Norway in 2000, he was for nearly 20 years a faithful worshiper at Saint Michael the Archangel Church in Sage Road, Houston, Texas where he assisted as an usher during mass and after mass, cleaning the kitchen and the parish room where the faithful congregated to enjoy refreshments, doughnuts and company and friendship.

José was preceded by his parents José, the second of eleven siblings, born in Querétaro, Querétaro and Maria Luisa, the second of four siblings, born in Tampico, Tamaulipas and three siblings, Ramón, Francisco and Manuel, all born in México City, México. José was also preceded by his wife Luduina Johanna Eleonore Meijer born in The Hague, The Netherlands.

José is survived by two sisters, Maria Luisa and Margarita Maria all born in Mexico City and residing in Querétaro and Mexico City respectively, and two sons Patrick José and Robert Maria Nicolas born in Krimpen aan den Ijssel, The Netherlands and presently residing in Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

José was educated at Instituto Patria in Mexico City, a Jesuit 1-12 school where he was instilled with personal discipline, intellectual curiosity, reading the classics and interest in foreign languages. As a teenager, the first language he learned was English, which he learned at Saint Philip Parochial School at El Campo, Texas. While concluding his Civil Engineering studies at the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, the oldest university in the American continent, and prior to travelling to Europe to undergo post-graduate studies in marine hydraulics in Delft, The Netherlands, he learned German, French and Italian, followed later by Dutch and Norwegian while residing in Europe. While a student in The Netherlands, he met his wife to be Luduina Johanna Eleonore Meijer (deceased). From their union, they had two sons Patrick and Robert both presently residing in Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

As a result of foreign travel while in the course of his work as a construction engineer, specialized in the engineering, construction and project management of onshore and offshore oil and gas pipelines and subsea structures, including a milk pipeline in The Netherland, he also made a dab at learning Mandarin at Leiden University in The Netherlands and Arabic with a private tutor in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. José always proudly stated the he could speak several languages, the only problem being that he spoke them all at the same time.

José was an avid reader of books and magazines leaving behind a library containing nearly 1000 volumes. He was also a devoted listener of classical music. José had fond recollections of a private recital, for a close group of friends, at José’s house by Matthew Dirst, a world renowned clavecin player and musical director of Ars Lyrica, a premier musical group in Houston, Texas. Bach Händel, Mozart, Hayden and Beethoven were José's favorite composers and he was very proud to have acquired complete editions of their work.

José was a devoted swimmer, enjoying visits to swimming pools wherever he travelled and resided. In Houston, he was very regular visitor of the swimming pool in his subdivision, where he for three years occupied the position of Vice-President of the Home Owners Association.

Among other interests, he worked actively in the restoration of classic and antique cars. His latest effort was involved in the restoration of a 1959 220S Mercedes Benz four door sedan. This vehicle won a first class prize in a national meet of the Antique Automobile Club of America.

José's remains will be cremated in a private ceremony. José will be remembered dearly.