Magdalena "Nena" Gonzalez

Magdalena “Nena” González was born on June 10, 1938, in Los Ramones, N.L., México. The Lord called our loving Mom to her heavenly home on June 30, 2023, at McAllen Heart Hospital. Cherishing Mom’s legacy are her daughters: Juanita A. González, Delia González, Dr. Carol G. (Rev. Tony) Pérez, Sylvia G. (Arturo) Zapata, Maribel G. (Santiago A.) Duque, her grandchildren: Domingo Arturo “D.A.” Zapata, Josiah Caleb Zapata, Andrew James Duque, Angelina Allysha Duque, Dominick Anthony Pérez and numerous nephews and nieces. Mom was preceded in death by her loving husband, Domingo “Mingo” González, her parents José María and Amada Pérez, her siblings Nazaria Flores, Loreto Pérez, Zoilo Pérez, Valentín Pérez, Luisa Muñoz, Eulalio “Lalo” Pérez, Manuela “Mela” Salinas, Juventina Pérez, José María “Chema” Pérez, Amadita Uvalle, Virginia Barrón and Margarita “Mague” Rodríguez—Mom’s twin sister. Our dear Mom was our pillar of love and strength. She fulfilled her calling, honoring God as she raised us to know Jesus Christ, modeling what a close relationship with Him truly is. Mom was a member of Palm Valley Church in Mission, Texas.

Mom embodied and instilled in us Christian virtues of love, faith, humility, generosity, integrity, dignity, respect and many more. It is through our faith that we find solace, believing that Mom’s physical departure is not the end of her life but rather the beginning of eternal life which is offered through our Savior Jesus Christ. Mom and Dad raised us, their five daughters in Peñitas, Texas. Mom was always present and intentional in our upbringing, ensuring our needs were met, from having breakfast ready for us every morning before we even got out of bed to greeting us cheerfully as we returned home from school every day. Her daily toil revolved around meeting our family’s needs. She loved cooking, gardening, embroidering, and sewing. Mom made the most beautiful quilts with family and friends. She was well-known for whipping up a delectable meal for visitors, including the best homemade flour and corn tortillas. Yet, what she was most passionate about was her daily devotional praying and reading her Bible, gaining invaluable wisdom which she eagerly shared with us. Mom was our number one advisor, supporter and confidant through adulthood. As her grandchildren were born, she played an integral role in caring and raising them. She adored them and there was nothing she wouldn’t do for them. To her grandchildren, Mom was their “Amá”, “Ma”, “Mamá”, “Mima” and “Grandma”. To us, she was our Queen—who fought the good fight until the Lord called her home.

We are appreciative of our family and friends who have been by our side through Mom’s life and her medical journey. We would like to express our appreciation to all of Mom’s medical providers. We are wholeheartedly thankful to Dr. Norma Cavazos whose love and care for Mom has been outstanding through many years. We are grateful to God for having placed medical angels to save Mom’s life on multiple occasions. We are immensely grateful to Dr. Jesús A. Rodríguez, Dr. Alfredo R. Arauco-Brown and Dr. J. P. Rey Mendoza for doing so. We are profoundly appreciative to them and their colleagues: Dr. Joseph Pean, Dr. Adolfo Kaplan, Dr. Ricardo Abreu, Dr. Mario Gomez, Dr. Juan M. Ortiz, and Dr. Omar Kadour with the A-Ok Pulmonary Group for their exceptional and compassionate care. We are wholeheartedly and profoundly grateful to Dr. Arturo Martínez, Dr. Marimer Rivera, Dr. Reuben Valentín, Jr. and his team, the incredible administration, therapists, nurses and all staff at Grand Terrace in McAllen and the remarkable team with United Health Renal Services for going above and beyond for Mom’s care. You treated Mom like the Queen she is to us. We also appreciate Dr. Luis Rosas, Dr. Rafael Rafols, Dr. Sánchez, Dr. Ricardo F. García, Dr. Eliana E. Ochoa, Dr. Juan Guardia, Dr. Roberto Manllo-Karim, Dr. John Manllo Dieck, Dr. Sergio A. Treviño-Manllo, Dr. Liliana E. Ríos, Dr. Subarrao Yarra, the wonderful nurses, therapists, administration and staff at Solara Hospital in McAllen, McAllen Medical Center, McAllen Heart Hospital and Valley Grand Manor in Brownsville, for their special care. Mom was indeed blessed to have been under your care. We are forever indebted to our Creator for Mom and the many miracles He performed in her life. May He greatly bless those that in one way or another contributed to Mom’s medical care and everyone who kept Mom in their prayers. Our immense love and gratitude also go out to everyone for their support of our family during such a time as this.

We celebrate Mom’s life and the incomparable blessing she will always be to us. Her favorite scripture was John 14:2-3. It is indeed befitting to highlight it as we pay tribute to her extraordinary life. Serving as honorary pallbearer during Mom’s funeral services will be Dominick A. Pérez. Pallbearers include: Arturo Zapata, D.A. Zapata, Josiah C. Zapata, Santiago Duque, Andrew J. Duque, Rev. Tony Pérez, Mario Pérez, Juan Jacobo “Jobo” Rodríguez and Dagoberto “Beto” Pérez.

The life of our dear Mom will be celebrated and remembered through a series of services beginning with a public viewing on Wednesday, July 5, 2023, at 4:00pm at Brown Family Funeral Home, followed by a prayer service at 7:00pm. On Thursday, July 6, the funeral service will be held at Palm Valley Church at 12:30pm. The burial will take place at 2:00 pm at Valley Memorial Gardens Cemetery. We invite all who knew and loved our dear Mom, Magdalena "Nena" González to share memories, stories, and photos on her memorial page. These shared memories will bring comfort and joy to those of us that our loving Mom leaves behind.