ZAPATA, TEXAS---Maria Elena Gonzalez 84, our beloved mother, grandmother, and great grandmother passed away peacefully at home surrounded by her children on March 17, 2020. After her pancreatic and liver cancer diagnosis on December 2015, she fought a long and courageous battle that was guided by her spiritual and devotional faith. Elena was born February 1, 1936 to Benito and Beatriz Ramirez.

She is preceded in death by her husband Manuel Gonzalez, her parents, her sister Zoila Saenz and a brother Lizandro Ramirez.

She is survived by her children, Magdalena (Dagoberto) Flores, Dora (Jose) Flores, Raquel (Carlos) Martinez, Rebeca (Carlos) Flores, and Manuel (Raquel) Gonzalez, Jr. Her grandchildren, Cristina (John) Charles, Eduardo Manuel Flores, Delinda (Eduardo) Lopez, Delissa (Arturo) Gutierrez, Jessica (Kirby) Paredes, Melissa (Dagoberto) Hinojosa, Carlos H. Flores, Jr., and Gabriela, Andrea, Victoria and Manuel Gonzalez, III and eleven great-grandchildren. Also surviving her are her sisters, Ofilia Lopez, Irma Alvarez, Guillermina (David) Rodriguez, Gloria Sanchez, Beatriz (David) Morales and a brother Baldomero (Elvia) Ramirez, numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and other family members.

Elena became a widow at a very young age, left with five young children she found courage to move on by owning and operating Goofy's Drive-Inn Grocery in Zapata, Texas along with her sister Irma and brother-in -law Adalberto (Goofy) Alvarez from 1978 until 1996 when she retired after the last of her five children graduated from college.

The family would like to extend their most sincere gratitude to Mary Plattner FNP, Zapata Primary Care; Dr. Selena Stuart, Laredo Hematology & Oncology Associates; Dr. G. Varadhachary & Dr. David Fogelman MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas; Dr. Edmundo Garcia, San Antonio, Texas for their excellent care during her treatments and Altus Hospice of Laredo for their compassionate dedication to her care.

The family held a very private service due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) on Wednesday March 18, 2020 with a family viewing, followed by mass at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church, and graveside services at Zapata County Cemetery.

Funeral arrangements were under the direction of Rose Garden Funeral Home Daniel A. Gonzalez, Funeral Director, 2101 N. US Hwy 83 Zapata, Texas.