Lourdes Gomez

Lourdes Gomez, age 72, of Las Vegas, Nevada passed away on Saturday, February 3, 2024. She was born on March 17, 1951, to a very big family in Irapuato Guanajuato, Mexico. With such a big family and being the oldest daughter of a total of 6 sisters and 6 brothers, she had to help out very young and was like a second mother. She got a lot of experience early on in life, which served her well throughout her lifetime.

Lourdes was very popular in Mexico. However, she was very focused on her studies when she completed high school, and was the first woman along with her friend to graduate from an all-male college in Mexico. She studied biochemistry and earned her degree in Mexico. Unfortunately, because it was in Mexico when Lourdes came to the United States in the early sixties, they did not accept or credit her four-year degree and said she had to do it all over again, so she went on to do nursing instead.

When she was 22, Lourdes had open-heart surgery and got a mitral valve replacement. Coincidentally some of her sisters went to work for Medtronic, which is a company that specializes in heart valves. She had her valve for over 50 years. This was a recognized world record that she luckily got to celebrate with her family at the headquarters and met with the inventors and doctors responsible for this incredible technology. Lourdes was a walking miracle and was incredibly strong in every way physically, emotionally, and spiritually.

Lourdes met her first husband at her workplace, and they got married. When she found out she was pregnant, the doctors told her that she needed to abort because she took too much medication, and her child would not only come out deformed, but she would not survive the birth. She fought with the doctors and said if she dies, she dies, but she was delivering her son. Lourdes was blessed with her only son, Francisco, who came out perfectly normal and healthy. Unfortunately, her marriage did not work, and Lourdes was left to raise her son alone and had to struggle to find her way and provide. Fortunately, she had a strong support system in her family and she was able to persevere. Later in life, Lourdes did eventually remarry and remained so for a couple of decades until his passing.

Lourdes was a strict disciplinarian who demanded only the best from her son. She sacrificed to enroll him in private schools so that he would receive the best education. It was important to her to pass along to her son her drive for success and to overcome obstacles in life.

Lourdes was so very organized and meticulous and was always very tidy and clean; she could not breathe being around a mess. She kept herself fit, and healthy and exercised regularly. She did not smoke or drink except her occasional glass of wine or champagne at events here and there; and loved to go out and eat her favorite very spicey Thai food. She was a great cook herself and could cook so many different types of dishes and many different ethnic dishes, including her famous volcano sauce chili.

Lourdes was a loving wife, and mother, and was very close to her family. She loved them all very much in a unique way and each of them had a special place in her heart. She was generous and kind, had a solid faith, and would go to church often. She had good friends at church who would take her out to eat and do activities, as well as go out and volunteer by cooking and serving food for kids and events. Lourdes was always learning and reading and had been taking lessons to speak French so that when she went to Paris, she could speak with the locals. The most important thing in her life was being her son's biggest supporter.

Lourdes was known to always say, "Do your best, don't give up, and believe in your dreams." She will always be remembered for her heart of gold, her love for family, her compassion for people, and her setting an example of overcoming adversity for others to follow and carry on her legacy; she will truly be missed.

Lourdes was preceded in death by her husband, Elias Orta; her father, Francisco Gomez Perez; her mother, Carmen Cruz Gomez; her brother, Francisco Gomez, and his wife, Leticia. She is survived by her son, Francisco Gomez; and her siblings: Carmen Garcia (Cesar), Mago Herrera (Hector), Patricia Rodriguez (Milthon), Silvia Gomez, Gabby Gomez, Arturo Gomez, Beto Gomez (Puchi), Alejandro Gomez (Alicia), Lupe Gomez (Lupita), and Alvaro Gomez (Teresa).

A funeral service for Lourdes will be held Friday, February 16, 2024, from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM at Palm Boulder Highway Mortuary, 800 South Boulder Highway, Henderson, NV 89015. Following the funeral service, Lourdes will be laid to rest in Palm Henderson Cemetery.