Helen L. Gonzales

HELEN L. GONZALES A Funeral Mass for Helen L. Gonzales a longtime Mancos resident will be held at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, May 24, at St. Margaret Mary Catholic Church with Father Pat Valdez C.R. officiating. Interment will follow at Cedar Grove Cemetery. Visitation has been set for Monday evening at 5 p.m. at St. Margaret Mary Catholic Church and Rosary services to follow at 6 p.m. Helen was born September 23, 1912 in Monte Vista, Colo. the daughter of John and Elvita (Espinosa) Lujan. She passed away at her daughter's home on Friday, May 20, 2011 at the age of 98. On January 26, 1931 Helen married Jacobo Filipe Gonzales in Del Norte, Colo.; sharing 52 years of marriage before his death in 1983. Helen was a member of St. Rita Catholic Church and St. Rita Altar and Rosary Society. Surviving Helen are her children Fred S. Gonzales and wife, Leona of Ignacio, Colo., Vera Cardenas and husband, John of Aztec, N.M., Dorothy Lopez and husband, Fernie of Cortez, Donnie Gonzales and wife, Barbara of Mancos, Rae Leon of Mancos, and Gerald Gonzales and wife, Veronica of Farmington, N.M.; by 39 grandchildren and numerous great grandchildren and great great grandchildren; by her siblings, Louis "Toby" Lujan and wife, Francis of Monte Vista, Colo., Mary Martinez of Monte Vista, Colo., and John Lujan of Las Vegas, Nev. Also surviving Helen are two daughters-in-law, Leva Gonzales of Denver and Mary Alice Gonzales of Mancos; a sister-in-law, Josie Lujan of Monte Vista, Colo.; and by numerous nieces and nephews. Helen was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Jacobo Gonzales; her children Jake Gonzales, Joe M. Gonzales, Charles Gonzales and Marie Gonzales; her siblings, Billie Archuleta, Janice Garcia, and Art Lujan; two grandchildren, Erica Gonzales and Joseph Gonzales; and by a son-in-law, Alonzo Leon.