Melida Perez Gonzalez

Dr. Mélida Perez Gonzalez left this world, just as she entered it, quietly and auspiciously on Tuesday May 22, 2024. She was born September 7, 1941, the first of 5 siblings, in San Benito, Texas, daughter to Aurora Escamilla Perez and Salvador Esparza Perez. Those early years on the ranchito instilled in her the 3 things that would always be her guiding principles, family, faith, and education.

Not known for being a particularly precocious child, she was not perfect either. She was helpful to her family, especially in doing her part to raise her siblings, help around the ranchito, and do her schoolwork. And did she love school! Graduating at age 15 from high school, she attended Incarnate Word College in San Antonio. During this time her faith continued to grow and she began to think about what her future would look like. Guided by her love of God and the Catholic Church, she decided to leave San Benito to enter the vocational life as a member of the Sisters of the Incarnate Word and Blessed Sacrament of Corpus Christi at the age of 17.

With this next step in her life, she was able to flourish in her faith and in her education. Mélida saw the world, traveling to Toulouse, France with her studies, also earning a Master’s Degree from the University of Kentucky (go Wildcats!). It was through her vocation and her passion for learning, that she focused on education. Her travels allowed her to not only master three languages, but to develop a passion for sharing those languages with the world. It was no surprise that she became an educator, teaching students in 3 languages at every level, from elementary to college students.

Mélida chose to leave her order after 13 years, knowing that her path was to take her out of the Church, but not away from it. She continued teaching, focusing on languages, and gravitated towards bilingual education. It was though this interest that she would meet the man she would marry and give her her 3 devoted children, Ana-Cristina, Gustavo Hector, and Román Alberto González.

Mélida loved her children, and they her, in ways that cannot be described adequately with words. Throughout the rest of her life, they would be there by her side, especially Ana-Cristina. Because of her devotion to her family, she moved from Texas to California, back to South Texas, and eventually to her last home in Round Rock, Texas. She moved to support her family, and to be with her family. She lived her final 27 years in Round Rock, having found a comfortable home to live in alternately alone, or with at least 1 of her 3 children at various times.

While she excelled as an educator, which is without question, she was truly a doting and supportive mother. She sacrificed for her children in countless ways, many time in thankless ways, to ensure their happiness and their success. She instilled in her 3 children a passion for learning and a gift for service. They were able to witness a grace in her which allowed for successes in the face of insurmountable odds. While she was raising her 3 teenage children, Mélida became a Doctor of Education, being hooded in the same year that Ana-Cristina graduated high school. Dr. Mélida González showed the world that through faith, love, and dedication, there is little that cannot be accomplished.

No matter how busy she was, or how much was being asked of her, Mélida was able to be a support for those who needed her, whether it was a member of her family, or one of her children’s friends who needed guidance, she always made the time to help. She could not see someone struggling and not offer some help in whatever way she could. This would be a hallmark of her life, and why she was so beloved by all. Everyone loved Mélida, and she was known affectionately by all of her children (and their peers) as Dr. Mom.

Even in retirement, Mélida continued to help. She retired from education 3 separate times, repeatedly heeding the call of an administration to return and guide more students to find education. Even into her last years, she would tutor seminarians and priests, helping them to learn Spanish so they could connect better with their parishes and parishioners. The intersection of 2 of her passions, faith and education, could not be overlooked.

Mélida was a proud parent, and an ever prouder grandparent. She was a doting, but stern parent, but as a grandmother she was beyond compare. Her grandson Laz would experience the endless love and joy for his first 19 years, being born in May of 2005 to her youngest son Román. Her granddaughters Aurora Carrollee and Wendy Mélida would follow in 2017, and 2020 respectively to Gustavo Hector and his wife Stephanie. All of her grandchildren loved Mélida, as everyone did, and she doted on them endlessly, even if her granddaughters were in Hawaii. Mélida did not care the distance, her love radiated as far as the stretches of the world.

It was impossible to know Mélida and not know her smile. It radiated beauty, grace, strength, faith, and warmth. It was what brought you in, and what kept you. Mélida was an impressive woman, high in esteem, well-educated, lover of college basketball and football, and strong in her faith. She did not lack in humility either, serving others, and lifting them up when they needed it. She may not have suffered fools, but she also did not treat those who were struggling without compassion. She was an example for all of us.

The world is a dimmer place without her in it. But her reach is great, and those who were changed by her are for the better. She is an inspiration to her friends, to her family, and to those who knew her. She was beauty and grace personified, and we all have a duty to preserve that legacy, to serve others and to do so without expectation of anything in return. We will miss you Mommy. Go in peace, to the next adventure.

All services will take place at Santa Cruz Catholic Church in Buda, Tx. The Rosary will be on Tuesday, June 4th at 7pm. The Funeral Mass will be on Wednesday, June 5th at 10am. Flowers can be sent directly to the Church. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to Aurora House Foundation. This nonprofit provides free hospice care for those who are in their last chapter of life. This foundation was started by members of our immediate family and is named after Mélida’s mother. Donations can be made online at www.aurorahouse.org/donate.