Our dear mother left us to join our Dad in heaven just before her 96th birthday,

Constanza Gonzalez Garcia was born in Corpus Christie, TX on September 28, 1930 and died on Tuesday, September 22, 2026 in her home, surrounded by her family.

She was called Chita from infancy. She grew up in Brownsville, TX with her parents Salvador and Lucinda Gonzalez and her maternal grandmother, Constanza Hernandez. Chita was a child of the Depression Era and worked every day of her young life for pennies saved to eat, live and pay the rent.

After finding herself alone, at fifteen she came to San Antonio to live with her paternal aunt and uncle, Concepción and Luis Saldaña who welcomed her like a daughter. It is here that she learned how to read and write, to cook, clean and sew and learned how to keep a home for her future family.

Chita met the love of her life, her husband Rupert who was a friend of the family. They were married on May 3, 1953 at San Fernando Cathedral and moved to Chicago where Daddy had a job. Mom hated the Chicago weather.

When she learned she was pregnant, she moved back to San Antonio to await the birth. Daddy came later and decided to stay in San Antonio with his little family. They bought the perfect house which was close to an elementary school, a Catholic Church and the bus line. It was everything the family needed and the household grew to four children.

Sadly, our father died in 1971 and Chita became a widow at 40, living alone with her children for 55 years, teaching us everything she knew about God, about life and leading us on the path to grow into productive adults.

Chita was predeceased by her parents, grandmother, our Dad, her brother Joe L. Gonzalez, aunts, uncles and cousins. She is survived by her four children: Janie (Peter), Francisco, Salvador (Carmen), and Edward (Josie). She will be missed by her four grandsons: Eric (Toni), Robert (Christina), Andrew (Melissa) and Yasper. She had six great-grandchildren whom she loved dearly: Natalie, Olivia, Vanessa, Brianna, Elise and Eli.

Along with many friends who prayed for her, we include her sister in Brownsville, TX, Maria de Lourdes Serrata and her cousin-like-a-sister, Maria de Jesús Gonzalez who all share our heart felt grief.

Our family would like to thank the doctors at Gonzaba, especially Dr. Jully Sanchez and Dr. Esther Duran. Also many thanks to La Diferencia Hospice team, especially Nohemí and Julia. We truly were treated like family. A big thank you to two of mom’s favorite priests, Fr, Martin Garcia-Avila and Fr. Dennis Darilek. We will always remember her expression of joy when they prayed with her.

Services will be handled by Castillo Funeral Home. Viewing on Monday, October 12, 4-8 pm with a Rosary at 6pm at Castillo Funeral Home, 520 N.Gen. McMullen, 78228. Funeral Mass on Tuesday, October 13 at 11:15am at Christ the King Catholic Church, 2610 Perez St. 78207 followed by a procession to Ft. Sam Houston National Cemetery where she will have her final rest with our father, Rupert.

Thank you all for the prayers offered for our mom and our family. In lieu of flowers, a donation may be made to her Church of over 70 years, Christ the King Catholic Church, 2610 Perez St, 78207.