Margarita Sanchez Gonzales

Margarita Reyes Sanchez was born on her families’ ranch in Leon Guanajuato, Mexico on October 16, 1955. She was the second child born to her parents’, Sebastian and Francisca Sanchez. She was raised in Mexico until age 5, when her parents and her younger siblings, Maria Guadalupe and Felipe, moved from Mexico to Brady, Texas in 1960. At that point the Sanchez family started to grow and Margarita became big sister to 6 more siblings, namely Martin, Javier, Maria Magdalena, Gloria, Alfredo, and Linda. Margarita cherished being a big sister and loved her younger siblings very much. She often spoke of times growing up on the ranch that Sebastian worked on in Texas, and how even though she was a sister to her younger siblings she often felt motherly toward them, especially the little ones. As she grew up, she met a boy at Brady High School named Rodolfo Esteban “Steve” Gonzales. The two started dating while he was a senior and she was a junior. They fell in love quickly and were devastated when Steve had to leave to attend his first year of college in Mexico City. The two, determined to stay together, kept in contact while he was away at school. Shortly after Steve left for school, Margarita’s parents decided to move the entire family to Santa Maria, California. Steve was unable to stay away from his beloved Margarita, so he left school, and followed her California. It was then that he proposed marriage to her and a short time later the two returned to Brady to be married. The two were married on July 27, 1974. They held their wedding reception under a great big beautiful weeping willow tree. The young married couple moved to San Antonio, Texas, and it was there that they found out they were expecting their first and only child. Their daughter, Nova Noamee Gonzales, was born September 13, 1977. This was a wonderful and exciting time for Margarita, becoming a new mother. She stayed home to take care of her new baby and would take little Nova with her everywhere. She often told a story about taking Nova to see her first movie when she was only one month old, “Saturday Night Fever”. The young family moved back to California when their baby was only a few months old. They made a life in the bay area for several years, living in San Francisco and Carmel. When Nova was about 2 years old Margarita went back to work. Margarita worked in the fashion industry her whole life. From 1984-1990 the little family lived between Texas and California, and even lived in New York for a couple of years. In 1990 they returned to Texas because Steve became ill, so that he could be close to his family. In 1992 Steve passed away. Steve’s death was an enormous loss to Margarita and Nova. Margarita never remarried and often talked about Steve as her best friend. From this point forward, Margarita’s sole focus was providing the best life possible for her daughter, which she did. Margarita raised Nova in Dallas, and became a major influence not only in Nova’s life, but those of her friends too. Nova’s oldest friends can recall many caring memories of Margarita and how she always looked out for everybody like they were all her kids. After Nova grew up, Margarita decided move back to California to be close to her family, who she missed dearly when they lived in Texas. Even though Nova was already an adult, she knew in her heart she could not be far away from Margarita, so both moved from Texas to California in the Summer of 1997, for good. Margarita continued to work in the fashion industry and worked for Cache and Nordstroms for many years. In 2002 she began residing in Salida in a home that she shared with her parents and her sister, Maria Guadalupe. She took much pride in the home she shared with her parents and contributing to the creation of our family home was one of her greatest accomplishments. In recent years Margarita enjoyed splitting her time between her home in Salida and staying with Nova and her son-in-law, David, in San Jose. Margarita became ill three years ago and lost the fight against her sickness on August 27, 2013 surrounded by her family and loved ones. During the last years of her life her greatest joys were caring for her parents, helping her sisters and brothers, and looking after her daughter, son-in-law, her beloved dogs Peanut and Missy, and her granddog Bella. Margarita was the true definition of a loving protector and care giver. It was through her protection, love, and guidance that her entire family prospered. Her loss is profound. With her passing there will always be a void never to be filled. As her family, we take solace in that she is no longer in pain, and she is in heaven with God who she held so dear.

A Memorial Celebration of Margarita's Life will be Monday, September 16, 2013 at 12:00 p.m. at Lima Family Santa Clara Mortuary, 466 N Winchester Blvd. in Santa Clara, California.