Maria Gonzala Gómez

Maria Gonzala (Charlotte) Gómez
Des Moines

Maria Gonzala Gómez, 92, of Des Moines died at home of complications of pulmonary fibrosis on June 4, 2015. A visitation will be held at Hamilton’s Southtown Funeral Home, 5400 SW 9th Street on Sunday, June 7, 2015 from 4 to 7 p.m. with the rosary recited at 6:30 p.m. Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Monday June 8, 2015 at St. Anthony Catholic Church, 15 Indianola Road, where Maria was a member since 1923. Burial will be at Glendale Cemetery in Des Moines.

Maria was born March 31, 1923 in Torreon, Coahuila, Mexico, the oldest child of Sebastian Rivera and Andrea (Montelongo) Rivera. When she was five months old she was brought by her parents to Des Moines where she grew up with her twelve brothers and sisters. She was a 1941 graduate of North High School. During WWII Maria went to work at Des Moines Glove Co. where she helped make tents for the Army, and later moved to Chicago to work at various factories supporting the war effort. Maria returned home to Des Moines after the war.

In 1947 Maria met José Gómez, the love of her life, in Rodriguez, Nuevo Leon, Mexico. In 1948 Maria and José were married in the nearby town of Anahuac, and then moved to Nuevo Laredo to start a family. While living in Mexico, they were blessed with three children, José (Joey), Roberto and Patty.

In 1951, Maria and José moved to Des Moines. They lived on S.E. Hartford, and were blessed with six more children: Rose, Ron, Diana, Kathy, Gloria and Maria. Maria worked at the Pioneer Columbus Community Center and also worked at the Principal Financial Group. In her free time, Maria enjoyed working in her garden and crocheting afghan blankets for friends and family. Maria’s faith was important to her, and she often would pray the rosary, thanking God and the Blessed Mother for the many blessings she received in this life.

Maria now can go to her eternal home and reunite with those who preceded her in death: her beloved son Joey, her parents Sebastian and Andrea, her brothers Edmundo and Edward, and her sisters Elena, Lucille Garcia and Juanita Garcia.

Left behind to remember Maria are José, her husband of 67 years, and her children Bob (Gayla) Gómez of DM; Patty Gómez of DM; Rose (Richard) Grier of Ankeny; Ron Gómez of Johnston; Diana (Bruce) Zuber of DM; Kathy (Barry Seaman) Gómez of Lomita California; Gloria (Sean Moore) Gómez of Windsor Heights; and Maria (Dan) Kuhlman of Des Moines; 19 grandchildren, and 12 great grandchildren. Maria is also survived by her siblings Henry (Rosenda) Rivera and John (Hannah) Rivera of Long Beach California, Andrew Rivera of Reno Nevada, Florentina Perez, Rose Bonanno and Evelyn (Phillip) Munoz all of Des Moines, and Connie (Gilbert) Sanchez of Tampa Florida, and many nieces and nephews.

The family would like to thank Dr. Susan Kennedy for her care of our beloved wife and mother.

Any memorial contributions may be directed to St. Anthony School.

Condolences may be expressed at:
www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com

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