Rita Gonzalez Garcia peacefully entered heaven on Saturday, September 23, 2023, at the age of 88. Rita was born on April 26, 1935, in San Antonio, Texas to parents, Manuel and Rita Gonzalez. They would carry on their lives in San Antonio where she would be raised in a household of 4 siblings.

Growing up, she was known by her neighborhood friends as "Juana", the adventurous one. She enjoyed being outside and riding her dad's motorcycle with her closest friend Irene. She had a great love for music (this being very present within the family) and would attend sock-hops with her friends and dance to the classics of the 50's. She was very ahead of her time, especially when it came to her sense of fashion. She had a chic style while also staying frugal by sewing her own outfits.

Her early adult life was spent working at Trinity University and later at the State Hospital. Here, she would demonstrate her natural giving soul by helping others in need.

Rita would grow to have 6 beautiful children. She then dedicated much of her life to nurturing and creating a home filled with warmth and love. She made sacrifices whenever she needed, to put them first. She had an undeniable motherly presence that she would continue to carry on throughout her life, through her nieces, nephews, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Rita also loved to cook. You could always find her in the kitchen making a home cooked meal for the family. Her specialty and family favorites were her homemade tortillas, beans and menudo which you could smell as soon as you walked through the door.

Rita was a woman of faith. She devoted herself to the Baptist church. She was always a kind presence and a source of wisdom. She was the epitome of a strong woman and despite whatever struggles or tribulations that may have presented themselves in her life, she was able to overcome and make better. She leaves behind a lasting impact of dignity and courage, to be kind even when life is not. To have faith that everything will be okay. With this, we find solace in her memory, in knowing that she will live on within each of us, and that we will carry on those traits throughout our own lives.

She will be dearly missed.