Hugo Urias Gil

Hugo was born in Los Mochis, Sinaloa, Mexico on July 18th 1954 to Ramon and Maria Gil, who have preceded him in passing. At the age of fourteen, in 1969, Hugo and his siblings, Ramon Jr., Ricardo, Gilberto, and Patricia came to Ceres, California where his parents moved them into “El Campo” across from Ceres High School. Ramon and Maria worked hard to move the family to their first home on 4th Street in Ceres, where the whole family would get together every Sunday for dinner and games of “base-ficha.”

Growing up he loved to play soccer and especially baseball, which he played very well. He had a great time playing with his friends in the Mexican-American league. Hugo also enjoyed learning and was proud of earning his high school diploma at the University of the Pacific in Stockton, where he had great times with his friends who can tell you many funny stories. The funniest stories though are probably the ones of his many adventures at the California Ballroom and the Fourth Street Park in Modesto, where he loved to cruise around in his blue Volkswagen bumping Sly and the Family Stone loud enough to go deaf.

Hugo took pride in his work ethic, whatever the job, whether it be as a custodian, working in the fields, or at a cannery. Everywhere he worked he made friends who he loved to have fun with and make laugh. If he made jokes with you, and maybe even made fun of you, it was out of love, and you felt it.

The profession he excelled and loved the most was that of a Real Estate Agent and Broker. Hugo worked very hard at being one of the most respected brokers in the Central Valley. With great pride he opened Gil’s Real Estate in the late 80’s. The business continues to flourish to this day on Crows Landing Road with his beloved nephew Ricardo Jr. Many beautiful memories were made at his office with his friends. They will always cherish those times as some of the best of their lives.

As Hugo Jr. was growing up he always made time to take him outside to practice baseball and also coach many of his teams at Costa Fields. Hugo loved watching his son play football and baseball. He never missed a game, never. He was a great man who cared about others and was always more than happy to have Hugo Jr’s friends over the house where he would treat them as his own sons. Hugo Jr.’s friends will always remember all the good times that Hugo Sr. made possible for them; he will be lovingly remembered as “Big Daddy Kane.” He taught his son how to put your wife and kids first, so that the home will always be a place of joy.

Vanessa, his daughter, can’t find the words to use to express how her father was everything to her. He was her best friend. As a child she remembers him being there in all her favorite memories. As she grew, they would lovingly spend every Sunday together having dinner and watching the Lakers or their favorite TV shows. He taught her how to achieve success in life through hard work. Most of all, he taught her how much a parent could love a child. “Dad, I love you, and there will always be a place in my heart for you because I loved you first.”

When Hugo left this world, his loving wife Yolanda, who he had been with since she was thirteen and he was fifteen, was by his side. She remembers him sweeping her off her feet from the first time they met. He always treated her like a queen and always put her needs before his. Hugo and Yolanda have always been in love and always will be. They were married for forty-three years at his passing. She has never loved another man, he was her everything, her Gordis, her love.

Hugo left behind his greatest legacy, the family he and Yolanda created out of love. The family gave him many joys in life, such as hearing his granddaughter Olivia play the violin, watching his grandson Nico play soccer, enjoying his daughter-in-law Marina’s cooking, and watching sporting events with his son-in-law Ruben. Family always came first and he loved to relax at home with them.

Hugo was great not because of what he had, but because of what he gave, everything.

The celebration of his life will be held on Wednesday, February 6th from 4:00pm-8:00pm at Lakewood Funeral Home Riverside Chapel, 900 Santa Fe Avenue, Hughson, CA 95326. Mass-10:00am - 11:00am, on Thursday, February 7, 2019 at Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church, 505 West Granger Avenue, Modesto, CA 95350. Inurnment will be private.