Minerva Texas

Minerva "Pin" G. Gonzalez, 59, went home to be with her Lord on Thursday, February 23rd, 2017. She was a devoted and loving daughter, mother, sister, and grandmother, and a woman of strong Catholic faith. Minerva, or ‘Mine', as many friends and family called her, was born July 22th, 1957 in Laredo, TX and graduated from United High School in 1975. She then attended Our Lady of the Lake University and graduated with her Bachelor's Degree in Social Work. She had a strong passion for helping those less fortunate and worked with UISD advocating for the rights and needs of special education students. Mine spent the later years of her career working with her family at MJ Carrillo, where, along with her traditional responsibilities of bookkeeping, accounting and "social media manager", she kept things running smoothly both emotionally and spiritually.

Mine had an unrivaled zest for life and loved to travel, especially cruises and tours in Europe. She was always up for an adventure, and delighted in making her children, nieces' and nephews' dreams come true. Whether it was a special trip to Dallas to see NBA and NHL games, WWE events, a vacation in San Francisco or a spur-of-the-moment Destiny's Child or Pitbull concert in San Antonio - Mine was always planning ways to inject more fun into everyday life. She will be watching Bruno Mars this fall from the best seat in the house.

Mine dreamed for many years of becoming a grandmother, and was delighted when her dream came true in September, 2016. She doted on her granddaughter and was completely overjoyed to find she was going to have a second grandchild, a boy, this June. She will be remembered and kept alive in the eyes and hearts of her grandchildren, and her love will surround them throughout their entire lives.

Mine, like her Mom before her, was devoted to serving her church. She was a Catechist at St. Patrick Church, helping to mold young children in their faith, and spoke often of what joy she found in working with youth. Since St. Patrick had been her parish for most of her life, she also served as a Eucharistic Minister for many years.

After she lived her ACTS Retreat several years ago and subsequently worked to serve on future retreats, it appeared that she found her true devotion to service. From a Retreat that took place just 4 years ago, she established a prayer group for recent retreatants, meeting every Wednesday for lunch. She decided that the group needed a name, and it came to be called Ladies in Faith Together, or LIFT. From the initial group, LIFT grew to sometimes up to 25 participants, and each week the group met to read and study scripture, and to faith share. It became more than just a prayer group - it became a place where those in attendance could share stories and receive love and support no matter the circumstance. Mine loved those Wednesday meetings, and rarely missed them.

From LIFT, came another group, Puro Cora, where Mine and others met weekly to crochet and knit. The group worked diligently to craft blankets and deliver them to individuals suffering from cancer. The Cancer Patient Center in Laredo eagerly awaited their deliveries every Christmas. Puro Cora gave Mine a refreshed love of her crochet skills, and she could be seen everywhere with her bag of yarn and hooks, always working on something for friends and family.

When she wasn't crocheting, praying, going to concerts, scrolling through Facebook or Pinterest or playing with her grandbaby, Mine somehow found time to be a culinary delight. She loved cooking for her family and entertaining, and her Sunday breakfasts were unrivaled. She welcomed everyone into her home with open arms and a plate of food.

Mine is survived by her father, Juan Jose "Oscar" Carrillo; loving husband of 33 years, Randy Gonzalez; children John Randy (Chelsea) Gonzalez and granddaughter Evelyn Genievieve, Clarissa (Mark) Fenker and grandson Jacob Joseph; sisters Ana "Teto" (Meliton) Rodriguez, Alma "Beba" (Ramiro "Bibi") Garza, and Teresita "Tere" (Roland) De La Garza; nieces and nephews Sean Christian, Christopher, Erin, Michelle, Cindy, Terry, Oscar, Laura, Meliton and Manuel; and many, many cousins, friends, and extended relatives.

She is preceded in death by her beloved mother, Minerva "Chito" Carrillo and nephew Matthew Solis.

The family will be receiving condolences on Tuesday evening, February 28, 2017 from 5 to 9 p.m. at Joe Jackson North Funeral Chapels, 1410 Jacaman Rd.; where a Vigil for the Deceased and Rosary will commence at 7 p.m.

Funeral services will be held on Wednesday morning, March 01, 2017 departing at 9:40 a.m. from Joe Jackson North Funeral Chapels to St. Patrick Catholic Church for as Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in her memory to: St. Patrick Life Teen, c/o Gwen Garza 555 E. Del Mar Blvd., Laredo, Texas 78041.

You may express your condolences and sign the guestbook online at: www.joejacksonfuneralchapels.com

Arrangements have been entrusted to the care and direction of the funeral service professionals at Joe Jackson North Funeral Chapels, 1410 Jacaman Rd., Laredo, Texas 78041; (956)722-8850.