Betty Gavette Castillo, a lifelong El Paso resident with a flair for fashion and informing everyone about the “successes” of her amazing husband, children and grandchildren, died Tuesday, July 22, surrounded by love and family.
She was 95. While Betty could make some of the best menudo, biscochos, capirotada, ambrosia and pancakes in El Paso, her passion was using her hands for artistic pursuits. She was a force of nature, as described by one relative, who would lend her hand to anyone and could make conversation with any person from any walk of life. She was the eagle-eyed general contractor for every home improvement project done on the Cielo Vista home shared with her beloved husband, Cesar, for more than 60 years.
She designed, cut and created numerous stained glass pieces and remembered every detail of her lone trip to Europe upon Cesar’s retirement.
She will be best remembered, however, for her people skills. Every friend of her three sons, whether they were Latino or not, would lose their names immediately and simply become “Mijo” or “Mija.”
Betty graduated from Bowie High School and retired from the then-Mountain Bell, where she routinely achieved top sales at her phone center and participated on the softball and bowling teams. She was a devout Catholic who religiously lit up the Virgen de Guadalupe statuette in her front yard every night.
She is survived by her brother, Bobby, her husband, Cesar, sons and daughter-in laws, Danny (Pat), Adrian, Sam (Letty) and her beloved grandchildren, Katie, Daniel Max, Andrew, David, Ali, Derrick, Clarissa, Sammy “Joe”, and Amelia. Along with her great grandchildren Coy and Luke, and countless nieces and nephews.
The family would like to thank Hospice El Paso and her two steadfast caregivers, Carmen Jimenez and Emma Maldonado.
Visitation will be held Monday, July 28, 2025 at 9:30 AM at St. Pius X Catholic Church, 1050 North Clark, with Rosary beginning at 11:00 AM. Funeral Mass will immediately follow at 12 Noon. Mrs. Castillo will be laid to rest at Ft. Bliss National Cemetery, 5200 Fred Wilson Blvd. at 1:30 PM.
