Tessie Gonzales

DOB: 3/22/1925

Tessie was born in Lima, Peru. She and her parents moved to San Antonio, TX in the face of political persecution in Peru. She went to school at Incarnate Word College and trained at Santa Rosa Hospital to become a registered nurse. On February 22, 1951 she married Leo Gonzales Jr. in San Antonio, TX.

Tessie went on to work at various hospitals in the San Antonio area where she pursued her interest in psychiatric nursing. Leo and Tessie moved to Denver, CO in 1965 and on to Beaverton, OR in 1970. Tessie worked as a psychiatric nurse at Dammasch State Hospital in Wilsonville, OR until retiring in 1990.

Tessie was a volunteer worker at the Elsie Stuhr Center in Beaverton, OR and was active in several Catholic charities throughout her life. She was an active parishioner at Saint Cecilia's Catholic Church for 40 years.

In 2010 she moved to Fresno, CA to live with one of her daughters. She is survived by 2 married daughters, Patti Anderson and Peggy Gonzales, who are also RN's, a son, Michael Gonzales, who is a retired assistant chief with the US Border Patrol and two granddaughters.

Tessie was the epitome of a lady, was loved and respected by both her immediate and extended family and will be sorely missed by all.

A graveside service will be held March 5, 2012 at 2:00 pm at Mt. Calvary Catholic Cemetery in Portland, Oregon.

Arrangements under the direction of Pegg, Paxson & Springer Funeral Chapel, Beaverton, OR.