Teresita Gonzales Obituary (1930 - 2023)

Teresita “Cuata” B. Gonzales, age 92, formerly of Mammoth, Arizona, passed peacefully in Rio Rancho, NM surrounded by family the morning of August 3rd, 2023. Teresita was preceded in death by her husband, Antonio Gonzales, and is survived by her two children, Isabel (Julie) Gonzales, and Tony (Nancy) Gonzales. Proud Nana to Marina, Beatrix, and Margaret, great grandmother of five, tía to multiple nieces and nephews, and like a second mother to many. Born and raised in Winkelman, AZ, Teresita graduated from Hayden High School. She then graduated from business school in Tucson, AZ, and worked in the payroll and business offices at Magma Copper Company and the Christmas Mine. After marriage, Teresita moved to Mammoth and made it her home for the next 59 years where she raised her two children. Teresita’s personality and loving nature allowed her to easily make friends and strong connections within Mammoth and the surrounding communities. When she moved to New Mexico she continued to nurture these relationships as well as making new ones, and deepened her bond with her older sister and nieces in Albuquerque and cousin in Southern New Mexico. She also kept up with the local news in The Miner newspaper. She was always up for new adventures and loved traveling to the mountains, lakes and rivers in northern New Mexico for picnics and daycamping. She enjoyed attending her granddaughter’s school activities and concerts, going out to restaurants, and eating Krispy Kreme donuts and Baskin Robbins ice cream (really any dessert brought her joy!) She loved teaching her granddaughter how to make tamales, tortillas and salsa. She loved sewing and had every color of thread imagined as well as boxes full of seam binding. She would often be found sitting at the piano playing music by ear or playing duets. Always full of life and laughs, a vibrant and energetic soul, Teresita will be greatly missed. Services to be held at The Blessed Sacrament Church in Mammoth, AZ, on August 18th, 2023. Viewing at 9:30 am, followed by the rosary at 10:00 am, and mass at 10:30 am. Burial to follow at Valley View Cemetery. In lieu of flowers donations may be made to United Food Bank at unitedfoodbank.org in memory of Teresita Gonzales.