Eudalia "Lala" - age 76 - Española Gonzales

Eudalia “Lala” Gonzales, 76, it saddens us to share the news of the unexpected death of the beautiful matriarch of our family Eudalia “Lala” Gonzales Montoya, our beloved “Lala” passed away this past Friday evening, July 11, 2014. She was preceded in death by her mother, Rosa; father, Jose Eguenio Martinez of Arroyo del Agua; husband, Nelson Gonzales; mother and father-in-law, Angelina and Aaron Gonzales; children, Karen Martinez, Betty Gonzales, Donald Gonzales, Phillip Gonzales and Gene Gonzales; grandsons, Leon and Dion Gonzales; granddaughter, Shaylene Romero; brothers, Fiñano Martinez, Emigerio Martinez, Olivar Martinez, Jose Eguenio Martinez; sisters, Ermine Martinez, Antonia Chacon and Dolores Martinez; sisters-in-law, Irene Martinez and Dolores Martinez. Her life's narrative can simply be described and summed up like this... God prepares us for tomorrow's challenges today, what doesn’t kill you only makes you stronger. She faced many life altering obstacles and challenges, events that would cause most of us to fold and give up, until her dying day she moved with an uncanny understanding of life's beauty and cruelty-- simultaneously. She had long made peace with the Lord, her faith in God challenged, questioned, perhaps shaken, yet in the end strengthened and renewed. Eudalia was born on June 10, 1938 in Coyote, New Mexico, the youngest child born to Rosa and Jose Eugenio Martinez. She met and married her childhood sweetheart, Nelson Gonzales, together they married and had ten children. She became a widow at the age of 30, she and Nelson had married some 16 years prior and had dreams of growing old together with lots of grandchildren it was inevitable they had ten kids together. However, their future didn't work out this way, the grandchildren and great-grandchildren came 58 in all. In 1969 her husband and her life-partner, Nelson was tragically killed, in a logging accident. She was left to raise ten children, the eldest Angie, was 13 and the baby Karen was 9 months old, from one day to the next, her life would forever be different. In 1971, she met her husband Horace Montoya, they would spend the next 43 years together. He understood and appreciated in a way very few did. He loved her and her family so very much. He was a stabilizing, force and foundation of strength in her life and through her last moments, he could be found at her side or not to far from. Together they raised four of their grandchildren. She was a retired bus driver from the Española Public Schools. She is survived by her husband, Horace Montoya of Española; daughters, Angie Trujillo and husband Charlie of Chimayo, Judy Romero and husband Frankie of Cordova, Lillian Gonzales and partner George Sena of Española; sons, Anthony Gonzales of Española and Manuel Gonzales and wife Margaret of Chimayo; daughter-in-law, Tamara of Tierra Azul; grandchildren Horace and Lala raised, Manuel Gonzales, Kathleen Martinez, Adrian Velarde and Nicole Gonzales all of Española; brothers, Leo and wife Vicenta of Pueblo, CO and Clarence Martinez of Española; 60 grandchildren and great-grandchildren and countless nieces and nephews. Public visitation will begin on Monday, July 14, 2014 at 6:30 p.m. in the Sangre de Cristo Chapel of DeVargas Funeral Home & Crematory, with a wake service to be held at 7:00 p.m. Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated on Tuesday, July 15, 2014 at 10:00 a.m. at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Española. Burial to follow at the Sacred Heart Catholic Cemetery, with the following serving as pallbearers, Manuel Gonzales, Pete Martinez, Jerome Gonzales, Nelson Romero, Harold Romero, Gene Gonzales, Derick Viareal, and Kyle Rodriguez. The family of Eudalia Gonzales has entrusted the care of their loved one to the DeVargas Funeral Home & Crematory of the Española Valley.

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