Petra Gutierrez

Our precious mother Petra Gutierrez, born Rodriguez, passed away peacefully at home, surrounded by a few of her daughters, grand-daughters and daughter in-laws. Petra was born in Pharr, Tx on 4/29/1927 and passed away in Gilroy, Ca on 7/21/2022. Petra was 95 years old.

Petra was born and raised in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas. Petra’s parents were Juan Rodriguez who passed away in 1982 and Florencia Rodriguez born Cabrera who passed away in 1956. Petra had 2 brothers, Marcos and Domingo and 2 sisters, Pilar and Maria. All of mom’s siblings preceded her in death.

Petra met a young man from a neighboring town known as Mercedes. Petra and Cayetano fell in love and were married 4/30/1948. They would eventually make their way up to the Panhandle of Texas, in the towns of Borger and Panhandle. In Panhandle we lived on a Ranch/Farm where Cayetano was the Ranch Foreman and mom was busy with us kids. That was a full-time job.

Even though Petra (mom) lived in the Panhandle she would make the 750 Miles trip to Pharr to have her babies. Petra’s first 6 children were born in Pharr at her mom’s house. Once her mother passed away in 1956, she would stay in the Panhandle and have the remaining 5 children in Borger and Amarillo.

In 1967 Cayetano (dad) wanted to leave Texas so he moved us to California where other family lived. We lived briefly in Reedley, Wasco and San Martin. In 1969 we landed in Gilroy.

Cayetano then wanted to do something different for work and went back to school, a Vocational School, and after completing his training he became a machinist at FMC in San Jose, Ca. Once we were all married and out of the house he and Petra moved to Chowchilla, Ca.

Petra and Cayetano left behind a large descendant population, 149 people.

Cayetano and Petra had 11 children!

George Gutierrez- Janie Machamer- Paul Gutierrez- Delia Reyes- Cayetano Gutierrez Jr.- Raul Gutierrez- David Gutierrez - Raquel Avila- Daniel Gutierrez- Rebecca Valdez- Lydia Moreno.

They also had 36 Grandchildren.

Lisa Cortez, Noemi Fernandez, Zachariah Cortez, Robert Gutierrez, Benjamin Gutierrez, Paul Gutierrez Jr, Elvira Gutierrez, Karen Alcaraz, Angel Lerma, Rafael Perales, Veronica Prado, Carlos Reyes, Angie Cisneros, Mike Prado, Joe Cuellar, Tim Avila, Nicole Chaffin, Kelsa Gentry, Tasha Gutierrez, Anthony Gutierrez, Bonita Underwood, Madison Collins, David Gutierrez, Donna Gutierrez, Mike Avila, Janie Fennell, Danielle Gutierrez, Michelle Gutierrez, Ruben Valdez Jr, Nathan Valdez, Joshua Valdez, Nicole Deinzer, Vanessa Esparza, Quirino Moreno, Sierra Moreno, Sabrina Moreno.

81 Great-Grandchildren and 21 Great-Great Grandchildren. Each person had their own special relationship with their mom or grandmother.

In 2009 her husband, our father, Cayetano passed away in Madera, Ca. George her first born was still born. Another tragedy my parents had to endure was the loss of their 7th child. David died in a car accident in 1978. David left behind a wife and two young children.

One of the things that brought my mom the greatest joy was in the early 60’s she began studying the Bible with Jehovah’s Witnesses. And later dedicated her life to Jehovah and was baptized. Petra had strong faith in the resurrection. Her hope was to live again here on earth and be reunited with her family and friends. Mom is simply asleep in death waiting for Jehovah to fulfill the promise he gave her. That was to live again, with a young beautiful perfect body and in perfect surroundings here on earth.

She enjoyed all aspects of the” truth.” Personal study, door to door witnessing, attending weekly meetings, assemblies, and conventions. Young ones in the congregation would call her mom.

We would have to take mom to the meetings and conventions. Others within the congregation would pick her up for meetings and field service. It was never a burden. You see mom never learned to drive. I guess she was too nervous, but she was a great navigator.

We are all mourning the loss of mom and grandma. Each of us are copying with it the best we can. Today when we see a picture of mom, we may shed a tear. With time when we see that same picture we will smile. I can’t wait for that day.

We will see you soon mom.