Consuelo "Stella" Gonzalez

Consuelo “Stella” Gonzalez , 91, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2019 at home in East Chicago, Indiana . Stella was born on April 22, 1927 in East Chicago, Indiana. Daughter of Jesus and Regina Aguirre. She was a graduate of Washington High School. She is preceded in death by her parents, husband Irineo Gonzalez; four brothers, Conception, Antonio, Manuel and Benjamin Aguirre; three sisters, Mary (Raul ) Vega, Josephine (Arthur) Morales, and Anita Padilla. Consuelo, fondly known as Stella to family and friends, is survived by nine children: Rene (Andre) Gonzalez, Suzanne (Robert) Martinez, Teresa (Phillip) Meyers, Eva (Gilberto) Garcia, Michael (Victoria) Gonzalez, Edward (Lydia) Gonzalez, Patricia (Orlando) Garcia, Jaime (Donna) Gonzalez, and Anita (William) Gonzalez. Also 23 loving grandchildren: Nicolas, Jessica Gonzalez; Nicole, Rosanne Martinez; Jeannette (Jesse Ocon) Meyers, Jon, Jaclyn Meyers; Valerie Garcia, Adrienne (Jose) Quiroz; Matthew (Jessica) Gonzalez, Alexis (Andrew) Nashkoff; Edward (Veronica) Gonzalez, Eric, Leandra, Alexandra Gonzalez; Orlando (Kesha) Garcia, Corinna Garcia, Erin (Angela) Bautista; William Gonzalez, Amanda (Angel) Estremera, Alicia, Jerry, Olivia Gonzalez. Stella was affectionately known as “Big Grandma” by her 15 great grandchildren: Tristen Meyers, Jesse Ocon, Jon E. Meyers, Neolani Aponte, Leah Nashkoff, Abel Gonzalez, Isaiah, Briana, Nevaeh Gonzalez, Diego Bautista, Nayeli, Sabriah Garcia, Amel, Nisa, and Nattie Estremera. She is also survived by one brother, Richard (Darlene) Aguirre, brother-in-law Don Padilla and sister-in-law Colleen Aguirre, and many nieces and nephews. Her children and then her grandchildren were the center of Stella’s life and her proudest achievement. She was a very caring and patient mother. Her family was very important to her and she loved watching her great grandchildren grow up. Stella loved cooking, baking and working word puzzles. She enjoyed reading, especially mystery novels. A Mass of Christian burial will be held Monday, March 4, 2019, at 11:00 am at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church, 3510 Deodar St., East Chicago, IN, with Rev. Terry Steffens officiating. Visitation at Kuiper Funeral Home, 9039 Kleinman Rd., Highland, IN, will be from 3:00 to 8:00 pm on Sunday, March 3, 2019 and from 10:00 am until time of mass at the Church on Monday morning. She will be dearly forever missed by her family and friends.​