Maria (Mary) Gomez Valenzuela, age 92, passed away peacefully in her home on December 26th, 2018 in Gilroy, California. She was surrounded by loved ones who sang her into eternal rest.

Mary was born on October 28, 1926 in El Paso, Texas to her parents Romaldo and Maria (Jesusita) Gomez. She was the eldest of 15 siblings and helped raise them all. When she was 18 years old she spontaneously hopped on a train to marry her husband Doroteo John Valenzuela on September 28, 1945 in Reno, Nevada. They had 6 children. She worked as a lab-technician at Gilroy Foods for 25 years and was a proud military wife to her husband John who served over 30 years in the Coast Guard and Air Force (World War II, Korean War and Vietnam War). They moved across the country many times as required by the service until becoming lifelong residents of Gilroy, CA.

Mary loved to sing, dance, crochet, prune her garden and admire all the little birds who would visit her often. She loved spending time with family, adored her grandchildren and loved to play bingo and Sequence. She was an amazing cook and often spoke of making handmade tortillas for all her siblings. She was a loving Mother, Sister, Daughter, Wife, Grandmother and friend. She was witty, soft-hearted, strong and walked with integrity. She was the Matriarch of her family and known to Brighten the lives of everyone who knew her. She will definitely be missed and Live on in the hearts of all those she has left behind.

Mary was preceded in death by her parents Romaldo and Maria (Jesusita) Gomez, her first born son Christopher Valenzuela and her loving husband of 70 years, Doroteo John Valenzuela. She is survived by her 5 children, Yolanda (Pedro), Martha, John (Alicia), Ida and Dorothy (Robert); 11 grandchildren Pedro (Marielos), Joseph (Monique), Christopher, Lawrence, Anna (Matthew), Christopher "CJ" (Jessica), Mary (Chris), Kailynn (Kerry), Joshua (Valerie) Elias (Tiffanie) and Daniell and many great-grandchildren.

Visitation will be held on Friday, December 28, 2018 from 1:00 to 6:00 pm at Habing Funeral Home with the Vigil Service beginning at 7:00 pm. Funeral Mass will be held at St. Mary Parish on Saturday, December 29, 2018 at 12pm, followed by burial at St. Mary Catholic Cemetery in Gilroy, California.