Mary Carmen Gonzaba

1936 - 2025

MARY CARMEN GONZABA
July 7, 1936 - April 25, 2025
Beloved mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, Mary Carmen Gonzaba, joined the Lord in eternal paradise on Tuesday, March 25, 2025. She was a loving and resilient woman who left an indelible impression on all who knew her.

Carmen attended P.F. Stewart Elementary and St. Joseph's School. A proud alumna of Providence High School, she cherished the memories of driving to school with her brother, Dr. William Gonzaba, who attended Central Catholic High School. She was extremely proud of her brother and would share stories of his success with everyone she met.

She later worked in the anesthesiology department at Wilford Hall at Lackland AFB. One of the highlights of her time there was welcoming Buzz Aldrin and his crew members after their historic journey to the moon. Carmen truly enjoyed her work and formed lasting friendships with her co-workers.

Her greatest joy came when her grandchildren and great-grandchildren were born. She loved taking spontaneous drives with them, sharing stories about their family history whenever she had the chance. Carmen supported them in every possible way-whether it was attending singing performances, school activities, or offering her thoughtful advice. She was a constant source of wisdom and unconditional love.
She also found great delight in entertaining her grandchildren and great-grandchildren with her imaginative stories about fictional characters like "Annie and Ralph" and, most recently, "The Raccoon!" Her sense of humor and storytelling brought laughter to every gathering. Carmen spent hours working on crossword puzzles, a pastime that made her surprisingly knowledgeable about current pop culture, musicians, and actors. She truly was one of a kind.

Her daughters were central to her life. They were inseparable, spending their days shopping, cooking, and, as Carmen would say, occasionally testing each other's patience. Their bond was a beautiful testament to love, loyalty, and friendship.

Carmen also loved her time in the kitchen, always eager to try new recipes from her weekly magazine subscriptions. She never hesitated to purchase something thoughtful for her family, always ensuring her loved ones had everything they needed.

Left to cherish her memory and honor her legacy are her daughters, Carla Gonzaba and Yvonne Perez (Martin Perez), her grandchildren Erica Gonzaba Hawkins (Dustin Hawkins), Christopher Perez (Maria Elizondo), and Celina Perez, along with her cherished great-grandchildren, Chloe Perez, Christian Perez, Camille Perez and Thaddeus Hawkins, as well as many other relatives and friends. She is now joined in heaven with her loving daughter, Betty Ann Gonzaba and her dear niece, Cynthia Ann Gonzaba.

The Gonzaba family would like to thank the staff of Gonzaba Medical Group- namely Dr. Osuna - and the staff of La Diferencia Hospice. Mario Barrios, Drs. William (Bill), Tom, Nicolas, and Greg Gonzaba and others who took time to care for Carmen in her time of most need. Words cannot express our gratitude.

The family will receive guests from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Thursday, April 10, 2025, at Porter Loring Mortuary, 1101 McCullough Ave, San Antonio, Texas. A Rosary will follow at 7:00 P.M. A Procession will leave Porter Loring Mortuary at 9:30 a.m. on Friday, April 11, 2025, for a 10:00 a.m. Mass at St. Margaret Mary Catholic Church, 1314 Fair Ave, San Antonio, Texas.

You are invited to sign the Guestbook at www.porterloring.com