Hilda Gonzalez

Hilda, a strong and proud woman was a mother, a loving grandmother, and great grandmother who lived a long fulfilling life. She enjoyed working in her gardens, painting beautiful landscapes, and relaxing with her dogs. She was bold with a fiery personality that persisted all throughout her life.

Hilda passed away peacefully at the age of 92 doing the thing she loved most, working in her garden.

Hilda was born to Maria and Ignacio Arreola in La Habra, California on July 11,1933. Hilda had seven siblings, Jorge, Marina, Rachel, Ignacio (Nacho), Hector, Lucie, and Jesse Montoya. During her younger years, Hilda enjoyed summer days playing with her siblings and cousins.

She also loved helping her mother work in the family bakery. As the years passed by, Hilda grew into a passionate and beautiful young woman. While out one night volunteering at a USO gathering for men going to the Korean War in Los Angeles, Hilda caught the attention of a young Marine, Manuel Gonzalez, the love of her life. She was not allowed to dance with the young men but accepted a dance with him. They wrote each other nonstop during this war time separation. The loving couple married on April 25, 1953 in California. While living in California, Hilda gave birth to her daughters, Marion and Cynthia. Hilda was a dedicated Marine Corps wife who supported the family as her husband was once again deployed, this time to the Vietnam war. The constant separation was extremely difficult during this tumultuous period of war.

After a few years in California, Manuel’s career as a Marine took Hilda and the young family all over the United States. During these years, Hilda gave birth to three more children, Mark, Pauline, and Lydia. In 1975, Hilda and Manuel with three of their children began a new chapter in Ogden, Utah and later West Valley City, Utah where they decided to settle down to raise the family. This was the start of many more wonderful experiences with an expanding family as Hilda became a grandmother to multiple grandchildren.

Shortly after losing her loving husband in 1999, Hilda moved to Stansbury Park, Utah. Hilda moved into a comfortable little home perfect for her and a few dogs over the years. She remained passionate about her hobbies relentlessly landscaping her yard, reading, and learning new methods of painting and drawing. Hilda became a bit of a recluse, but her love for her husband and her family would never fade as evidenced by her ever expanding wall of family photos. Hilda proudly showed these photos to anyone visiting her home. She also earned the illustrious title of “GG” meaning great grandma and even became a triple G great great grandma. Hilda will be greatly missed by her many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

She is survived by her daughter, Cynthia Schadle (Grant); son, Mark Gonzalez (Vicky); daughter, Pauline Wilson (Jeffrey); and daughter, Lydia Dang (Harold). Hilda was preceded in death by her oldest daughter, Marion App (Alvin). Hilda lived a wonderfully long and fulfilling life. Now, she can be joyous in reuniting with her husband.

A graveside service for Hilda will be held Wednesday, July 23, 2025 at 11:00 AM at Valley View Memorial Park, 4400 West 4100 South, West Valley City, UT