Maria Elida Gonzalez was called to her eternal rest on the evening of Sunday, August 25, 2024, in Zapata, Texas. She died peacefully in her home while being comforted by loved ones at her side. Elida was born on April 25, 1943, in Veracruz, Mexico, and was 81 years old at the time of her passing. She was the youngest of 10 children.

At 17, she met the love of her life, Aureliano "Nano" Gonzalez, in California, and they married August 8, 1961. There, they began a family in 1962, and in 1970, moved to Texas, making it their forever home state. Together, they had 5 children; Diana, Arturo, Hector, Lucy, and Dora. Elida became a gifted homemaker and cared for their beloved 5 children. She was a loving sister, faithful wife, mother, grandmother to 12, great-grandmother to 25, and great-great-grandmother to 1. Her joy in life came from giving the utmost devotion to her loving husband for the 63 years they were married. She dedicated herself tirelessly and selflessly to the care and keeping of her family and home. When the time came, she continued to give herself wholeheartedly to her many grandchildren. She was the matriarch of her family.

Elida was known for being a woman of great faith. Her family will always remember her having daily moments of prayer with our Heavenly Father. She had such a great love for long talks with her family. Though she might have been small in stature, she was also a strong-willed and bold woman at times if warranted and always persevered through life's challenges.

We will miss her tremendously, and she will live in our hearts forever.

Elida is preceded in death by her parents, Clemente and Rosenda S. Martinez; brothers, Romeo (Nora) Martinez, Rogelio (Librada) Martinez, Refugio (Concepcion) Martinez, Clemente (Concepcion) Martinez, Baltazar Martinez, Antioco (Viola) Martinez and Armando Martinez.

Elida is survived by her husband of 63 years, Aureliano Gonzalez; sons, Arturo (Elva) Gonzalez, Hector (Juanita) Gonzalez, Ricardo (Rebekka) Gonzalez; daughters, Diana Gonzalez, Lucy (Alfredo Jr.) Gutierrez, Dora B. (Roy) Guerra; 12 grandchildren; 25 great-grandchildren; 1 great-great-grandchild; sister, Cenovia († Porfirio) Garza; Lucia (†Adalberto) Mejia; sister-in -law Oralia Martinez and by numerous nephews, nieces and other family members and friends.

Visitation hours were held on Thursday, August 29, 2024, at Rose Garden Funeral Home. We opened at 8:30 a.m. with a Rosary at 9:30 a.m.

The funeral procession departed at 10:30 a.m. for an 11:00 a.m. funeral mass at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church.

Committal services followed at Zapata County Cemetery.

Funeral arrangements were under the direction of Rose Garden Funeral Home Daniel A. Gonzalez, Funeral Director, 2102 N. US HWY 83 Zapata, Texas.