Anna Marie Gonzales

Anna Marie was born to the late Emilio and Josephine Matos, June 25, 1927, in Kansas City, Kansas. Anna Marie graduated from Bishop Ward High School in 1947. She also attended College locally.

Anna Marie married the late Robert McLemore Gonzales on October 15th, 1955, and they lived together in Johnson County throughout the years. Anna Marie is survived by four children: Sylvia Rodriquez (Gilbert), of Emporia KS; Michael Gonzales (Janet) of Overland Park KS; JoLinda Vega (Larry) of Olathe; and Patricia Foster (Robert) of Olathe, KS. She is also survived by eight grandchildren: Jenna Gonzales (Aaron), Jordan Gonzales, Steven Vega, Andrew Vega (Valeri), Brian Vega (Katherine), Robert Foster II (Jessica), Mark Anthony Foster, Christina Wightman (Dustin), eight great-grandchildren: Ariana, Mia, and Cruz Vega; Isabel, Robert III, and William Foster; and Ava Marie and Jacqueline Wightman and her sisters Josephine Guevara, Southgate, CA and Gloria Ballard of La Mirada, CA. Anna Marie was predeceased by her loving husband in 2011, and her sisters Juanita Matos, Josephine Matos, Rachael Matos, Hermina Reyes, and Mary Reyes, and her brother Regino Matos.

Anna Marie worked part-time at Macy’s and a florist shop while raising her young children. She later joined Gill Studios Inc. for 25 years performing various roles and retired after working as a paste-up artist (graphic artist) specializing on campaign-related projects. She was loved by many for her sweet and caring personality, warm smile, strong faith, and joy for life. Anna Marie was a loving mother who raised her children to be confident, always encouraging them, and respectful of others. She enjoyed caring for her grandchildren by attending sporting events, picking them up after school to spoil them, going to museums, and shopping. The kids often told Grandma, “We can never pull one over on you” which made her laugh. She enjoyed music, dancing, fashion, shopping, and exercising. She could dance all night! She also enjoyed theater, attending many of the local shows that came to town. Later in life, she looked forward to the Silver Sneakers program for seniors. Anna Marie enjoyed the local sports teams, especially the Kansas City Chiefs. She often said, “Travis Kelce is my boyfriend.” Anna Marie and her late husband enjoyed traveling to such places as Washington D.C., Hawaii, Las Vegas to attend shows and play the slot machines, and San Antonio to visit family. She took a trip with her family and sister to Cabo San Lucas and enjoyed the adventure of exploring while there.

Anna Marie passed peacefully with the appreciation for living life with purpose and love. She will be missed by many but always near our hearts. Anna Marie would like for us to celebrate her life by showing the same loving and caring spirit she imparted on all of us. She is now reunited and enjoying her first dance in heaven with her husband Robert. May we dedicate our next dance to Anna Marie.

Services will be Friday, March 18th at St. Agnes Catholic Church located at 5250 Mission Rd, Roeland Park, KS 66205. With the Rosary starting at 9:00 am followed by Viewing at 9:30 am and Mass at 10:30 am. The burial will take place following Mass at Mount Calvary Catholic Cemetery located at 1150 N 38th St, Kansas City, KS 66102. The reception following the burial will be held at St. Agnes Parish Hall in the back of the church. Masks are suggested.

Anna Marie was a believer in helping others and always giving. Before her death, she requested donations be made to Catholic Charities on behalf of Anna Marie Gonzales (greatest needs) in lieu of sending flowers. Donations can be made on behalf of Anna Marie Gonzales to Catholic Charites of Northeast Kansas, 9720 W. 87th St., Overland Park, KS 66212, or visit https://catholiccharitiesks.org/donate.

EULOGY

Hello and good morning. Thank you for coming today to celebrate the life of Anna Marie Gonzales or as some know her as Mother/Mom, Grandma, sister, Aunt Anna, Nina, Mrs. G. There are so many of us here today who have many fond memories of our Grandmother, it’s obvious she was loved dearly by all. She passed away early Thursday morning on March 10th at the age of 94 or 49 as our Grandmother used to joke that her age was actually the year inverted, so in this case she would prefer being 49 not 94.

She passed peacefully, without pain and surrounded by her loving family. Our Grandmother lived a full life, she was happy and proud of her entire family. Regardless, I am certain to many that her death came sooner than any of us would have wanted, but I encourage us all to view her death as she was ready to go to Heaven where her husband Robert, our Grandfather, has been eagerly waiting for his favorite dance partner to join the dancefloor so they can finally dance together again.

Anna Marie Gonzales grew up in Armadale, KS, where she married Robert Gonzales and moved to Roeland Park, KS where she raised her 4 children, all here with us today. She would later move to Overland Park, KS where she lived until her death.

She was the oldest of 8 sisters and 1 brother. Her sister Chula remembers her as the person who raised her, loved dressing her up and was someone she could always count on. Her sister Gloria describes her as a great woman who had a good heart and who she loved to make laugh. Our Grandmother loved talking to her sisters on a regular basis even up until her passing and loved being around her family.

She was Homecoming Queen at Bishop Ward High School, Queen Mexican Fiesta and attended college (which was rare at that time). She met Robert Gonzales, our Grandfather, when they were in their early 20’s and as most of us know, she loved to tell that story. They met while attending mass at Guadalupe Church and our Grandmother always loved to share how Grandpa was so smitten by her that he didn’t waste any time calling her house to ask her out. He also never told her his age and it wasn’t until they were signing their marriage license that she found out. That story would always make her and everyone hearing it laugh.

They were married for 56 years before our Grandfather’s passing, and they had 4 children together: Sylvia, Michael, JoLinda and Patricia. Our Grandmother loved being a mother, worked hard to make each of them feel special in their own way and taught them to be confident in themselves. She enjoyed talking to her daughters on a regular basis as well and taught them the importance of etiquette and of being lady-like. She also had 8 grandchildren (and 8 great grandchildren) whom she loved very dearly. She spent time listening to what was going on in their lives, attended all their special events and loved seeing pictures or videos every week when she could no longer go out.

Our Grandmother was known for her sweet, caring personality. She lived a long happy life that is one to be admired, and she had a strong Catholic faith. She loved sharing stories, laughing at and telling jokes, was a great cook and was the first to know when a shopping sale was going on. And as everyone here knows, she loved to dance.

Of course, her favorite dance partner was always our Grandfather and although she didn’t have to, because we could all see it in her eyes, she’d share how much fun they used to have together. And you could see excitement in her whenever she heard Mexican music start to play.

She loved spending time with friends on the weekend, traveling (including trips to San Antonio with her husband or sisters once a year or with their family and friends to Las Vegas), visiting with family, going to church, exercising (including the Silver Sneakers Program when she got older), watching the Hallmark Channel and local sports such as the Kansas City Chiefs, the Kansas City Royals and KU, and of course she loved shopping (where she’d say to me, “Mija, we shop till we drop” during our all day, girls shopping trips).

She lived life with purpose and meaning. Towards the end of her life, she shared so many stories about her life, her family ancestry, her memories with our Grandfather and she shared advice, topics that she wanted to pass on to us and that we will all remember in the years to come.

Thank you to all those who cared for her throughout her years, including Johnson County Hospice and Libby Herring who were there during her final days. Libby, she was so excited to hear you’d be coming to care for her, and we will never be able to thank you enough for being there for her. We’d like to thank Father Porter and the St. Agnes Catholic Parish for allowing us to host her celebration of life here today. And last, thank you to all of you here to remember her full and happy life.

Let us not only mourn her passing but also celebrate her life as we grieve together for a truly amazing and wonderful woman who will be greatly missed. As we celebrate the mass here today in honor of my Grandmother, let us all remember the happy memories we have of her and know she is with God now. “Eternal rest grant upon her O Lord and let perpetual light shine upon her. May she rest in peace, Amen.”

We love you Grandma.