Sister Rachel Gomez, 86, passed away February 18, 2018. She was born January 8, 1932 in Selma, TX to the late Cosme and Alejandra (Ayala) Gomez. She was the eighth of twelve children – six girls and six boys.
She attended Our Lady of Perpetual Help School in Selma. On August 17, 1955, she entered Nazareth Convent in Victoria and made her first profession of vows August 6, 1957.
Sister Rachel enjoyed reaching out to share her many gifts through her sunny optimistic disposition. She served God in the convent by doing domestic work, such as cooking, laundering, and housekeeping. She enjoyed playing the recorder and was ever ready to entertain the Sisters. She also loved the outdoors and taking care of plants.
She was an excellent cook, especially in pastry preparation. As a nutritionist, she was very meticulous in every aspect of her ministry and very artistic in producing tempting and delectable foods. In Hallettsville, she cooked for the Sisters and took care of household duties. At Mercy Hospital in Jourdanton she planned the meals for the Sisters, nurses, and the patients during her 18 years there. In 1977 she stepped into the kitchen of the Sisters at Incarnate Word Convent and became the main cook until 2012. She continued to reach out wherever she could even after she moved into the IWC Healthcare Center. Her sense of humor and kind, loving, gentle, peaceful, and prayerful spirit were a constant inspiration.
She is preceded in death by her parents; sisters, Carmen, Socorro, Cecilia, and Jesusa (Josie); brothers, Antonio, Fernando, Silvestre, Ysidro.
She is survived by her brothers, Ralph and Eulijio (Eloy), and her sister Isabell (Leroy) Cross; many nieces, nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews.
On Tuesday, February 20, at Incarnate Word Convent, a Visitation and Scriptural Rosary will be held at 3:00 pm followed by a Wake Service with Evening Praise and Sharing of Memories at 6:30 pm.
On Wednesday, February 21, the Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 am at Incarnate Word Convent with Bishop Brendan Cahill as the presider and Father Phi Nguyen as homilist.
Burial will follow at Catholic Cemetery No. 3.
Richard Vasquez, Joe Vasquez, Thomas Vasquez, Rudy Gutierrez, Javier Gomez, Wilbur Etzler, Pete Moya, and Dan Stryk will serve as pallbearers. Memorials may be made to Incarnate Word Convent or donor’s choice.
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