Maria was born on February 24,1941 in Santa Isabel, Jalisco, Mexico to Jose and Rosa Gonzalez, and was one of eleven children. Even with a large family, she has always stood out. She was born with a naturally outgoing personality which only became more pronounced as she got older. She never met a moment she couldn't make brighter. A whirlwind of laughter, love, and just the right amount of mischief, she lit up every room with her wild spirit and uncanny ability to turn strangers into friends.
Maria was a proud poet, filling notebooks with verses about life, love, Jesus, and everything in between. Her words were raw, silly, sacred, and deeply human just like her. She wrote poetry not for fame or formality, but because her heart had too much feeling to keep to itself. She never called herself a poet, but she was one all the same.
As a devout Catholic, Maria, a parishioner at Sacred Heart Church, rarely missed a mass or a rosary. Her faith ran deep, and it showed. She prayed with her whole heart, believed in miracles, and still managed to never take herself too seriously.
Maria truly enjoyed music, whether she was singing it or dancing to it. She served several years as a member of the choir at Sacred Heart Church. She loved singing hymns and proclaiming her love for Christ with her beautiful voice. Her musical tastes were anything she could dance to and even included reggaetón, which anyone who knew her could just picture it.
Maria loved everyone, and she meant it. Her love was truly unconditional and unfiltered. She was generous with her hugs, her opinions, and her silliness. And oh— how she loved President Obama. There was always a special place in her heart for him, and even as her memory began to fade, his face was one she'd always have a blush for.
Maria is survived by her son Manuel de Jesus Cardiel, daughter-in-law Nina Cardiel, her grandchildren Linda Cardiel, Manuel Cardiel Jr, Marques Cardiel, Joseph Cardiel, her great grandchildren Alexis Galindo, Isaac Cardiel, Alessandra Cardiel, Royce Cardiel, Zachiel Cardiel, her great great grandchildren, Sebastian Villapudua, Julian Hamby, Ezariah Martinez, Leilani Fernandez, her sister Inocencia Martinez (Miguel), and her step-son Andrew L. Cota.
Maria was preceded in death by her husband of 35 years Andrew G. Cota, her parents Jose and Rosa Gonzalez, and her siblings Felipa Gonzalez, Francisco Gonzalez, Romana Gonzalez, Leonardo Gonzalez, Jesus Gonzalez, Regina Guerrero, Natalia Jimenez, Teresa Bejarano and Candida Brewer.
Maria, also known as “Lela”, truly lived a full life; loud, silly, holy, and unforgettable. Her legacy of kindness, unconditional love, and more importantly, her faith will live on forever.
May she rest in everlasting peace.
