Otilia Gonzales

Otilia Gonzales, born on December 25th, 1924, went home to be with the Lord on May 5th, 2012 at the age of 87. She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother. Tillie was a gifted artist with a love for people and nature. She was a graduate of Sam Houston High School. She discovered her love for drawing as a five year old girl in downtown Houston, Texas where she was from. Her father Narciso, brothers Ernest and Leon, and sisters Ida, Ruth and Theresa were Tillie’s first art projects.

From comic strips and funny pages, to clothing store ads and models, if something caught her eye, she drew it. Tillie would draw on anything she could get her hands on. She could even sketch a profile on a paper napkin in seconds, if you weren’t looking. Over time, she perfected her drawings and included landscapes, animals, horizons and abstract objects. Later in her career, Tillie began to paint with pastels, pencils and oils. Every president, movie star, celebrity, family member and friend became the center of her work.

Tillie was also a great seamstress with an eye for fashion and a knack for crafts. She made countless dresses, uniforms, quilts, paper machete dolls and clever home essentials. Tillie never missed an opportunity to go shopping, especially to pick that perfect dress for the holidays. If she liked your dress, you were “styl’in”! From costume jewelry to the latest perfume, Tillie was the epitome of class.

Tillie will always be remembered for her gentle spirit, encouraging words, generosity, contagious laugh, sense of humor and her good cooking. Some of her phrases that will be missed include: “Lord Bless You.” … “This needs salt.” … “See you then.”... “Awe the heck with it!” … “I just want a little taste (of yours).”… “But what ‘cha gonna do?”… “Who cares?”… “If there’s something you want to do, you better do it now.”

She is survived by brother Ernest Eguia and family; her three sons: George and wife Paulette Gonzales, and Travis Przyborski, Ted and wife Jan Gonzales; Alex and wife Loida Gonzales: her grandchildren: Alicia and husband Gerardo Alaniz; Karen and husband Ken Green; Renee and husband David Mosher; Kyle and wife Anna Gonzales; Adam and wife Shelby Johnson; Tara Gonzales; Kevin Gonzales; Hailey Gonzales; Justin Gonzales; Richard and wife Cheryl Anderson, Joanna and husband Arthur Przyborski; her great grand-children: Tommye Kristiana, Pierce, Everett, Adelaide, Candyce (Allen), Crystal, Montanna, Wyatt, Brent, Cheynne, Deborah: great great-grandchild, Emily and numerous nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by her husband Elias, daughter Joyce, son Robert and granddaughter Tommye Dale. Visitation will be on Thursday, May the 10th from 4:00 to 9:00 pm. The funeral service will be held on Friday, May 11th at 11:00 am at Brookside Memorial Park.