Obituary of Catherine Sara Gonzalez

Catherine Sara Gonzalez March 4, 1927 to May 8, 2011 Catherine Sara Gonzalez died on Mother's Day, May 8, 2011, encircled by her family and friends with love and prayer at the home she shared with her daughter, Nancy, and granddaughter, Michele, in Scotts Valley. She was 84 years old. She was born in Ysleta, Texas in her maternal grandmother's home to Sam and Virginia Nastos. As a young girl her family lived in homes throughout Southern California. She graduated from Belmont High School in Los Angeles, CA and her family was so proud of her when she received her AA degree from Mission College, Santa Clara, CA later in her life. Mother's first job was working as a clerk in a government office during World War II. After her marriage to Frank Gonzalez, Jr., on August 2, 1947 she lived in Los Angeles and then moved to Whittier and then to La Habra, California. In 1959, the family moved north and settled in Redwood City. As a young mother of two, she was a full-time homemaker during her daughters' school years. They later lived in Sunnyvale for many years. She returned to work after her daughters were raised. She worked at both West Valley Community College in Saratoga and Mission Community College in Santa Clara. Following the death of her beloved husband, mother moved to the Santa Cruz area on a part-time basis in 1985-to live in a condo with an ocean view in Rio del Mar. From 1989-1990 mother joined a job exchange program for staff of Mission College. She exchanged jobs with a woman from Sault Saint Marie, Canada. During that year, she enjoyed the snow and many winter activities. On October 17, 1989 she was still in Canada when the earthquake struck Rio del Mar. She was very worried about her family in the Bay Area and how her condo had survived the quake. All was well, just a few broken items. A few years later she retired from Mission Community College in 1992. She became a full-time Santa Cruz County resident after her retirement. In 1998, she moved to Scotts Valley and became an active resident of Montevalle, senior mobile home community. In 2006, she moved again to her daughter's Skypark home. Mother loved all things crafty. She learned to sew from her mother and she taught both of her daughters to sew. Both Nancy and Francine got new school wardrobes sewn by their mother every fall and spring. Mother also loved to arrange flowers, both cut and silk flowers. Her silk flower wreaths and arrangements fill our living spaces. At Montevalle, mother learned to throw pots as a member of the Cracked Pots, a pottery club. Mother loved traveling and she took many trips, to the east coast to see fall colors and other parts of Canada. Mother and Francine took a two-week Panama Canal cruise at Christmas in 1994. She also traveled to her father's home county, Greece and met some distant cousins. Mother was a member of altar guild for many years at St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Sunnyvale; St. John's Episcopal Church in Aptos; and recently St. Philip's Episcopal Church in Scotts Valley. She was preceded in death by: Her father Sam Nastos in 1971 and her mother Virginia Nastos in 1977. As well as her husband Frank Gonzalez, Jr. who died on Father's day in 1984. They were married for 37 years. She is survived by her two daughters, Nancy and Francine both of Scotts Valley. Her four grandchildren Steven Henshaw (wife Trisha) of Pacifica, CA; Nicole Aubert Stokes of Dallas, Texas; Steven Aubert (wife Jana) of Brentwood, CA and Michele Gonzalez Caro of Scotts Valley. Four great-grandchildren: Alison and Brandon Henshaw and Alyssa and Morganne Aubert. There will be a Memorial and Celebration of her life starting at 10:30 am Friday, May 27th, 2011 St. Philip's Episcopal Church 5271 Scotts Valley Dr. Scotts Valley, CA In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions may be made to: Hospice of Santa Cruz County, 940 Disc Dr. Scotts Valley, CA 95066 or St. Philips Episcopal Church