Carmen Gonzalez

The Angels smiled on Carmen M. Rodriquez-Cortes Gonzalez on July 20, 2012 and took her into God’s loving arms. She was 79. Carmen handled her years of illness with strength, dignity and an unbelievable amount of courage. She was such an inspiration to all those who knew her, she was the Matriarch of her family. Carmen was a loving, giving, caring, generous and forgiving soul who always put God first, and her family and friends before her. She was unselfish in her ways and showed unconditional love to everyone. She was humbled by the outpour of the love and support given to her especially this last year. Her warm spirit, love, faith, and strength will be remembered by those whose lives she touched. Although she fought valiantly with this disease, she was always ready for when Jesus called upon her. She was born and raised in Utuado, Puerto Rico, and came to Bristol in the 1950’s enjoying 55 years there, then 6 years in Puerto Rico, Florida and Trenton; and most recently lived in Hamilton, NJ. Her many achievements and degrees received were GED, English 1 & 2, Typing 1, Nurses Aide, Teacher’s Aide, and schooling to benefit her while raising her family. She was the first Secretary and Treasurer for the Puerto Rican Civic Assoc. which begun in 1971. She will be remembered for her dedication to the John Girotti Elementary School in Bristol, and all her students she taught with such love and admiration. Carmen was preceded in death by her parents Evangelista and Aurelio Rodriquez-Cortes; her husband of 60 years Jesus T. Gonzalez; grandson Michael Cerruti; and numerous siblings. Left to cherish her memory are her 4 daughters Edith (Jules) Cerruti, Norma (William) Sullivan, Miriam (Angel) Gonzalez, and Carmen (Pedro E.) DePaz. She is also survived by her grandchildren Peter, William, Joseph, Jennifer, Paul Jr., and Ricky; great grandchildren Peter Jules and Shannon; sisters Amelia, Anna, Maria; in-laws Carmen M. Gonzalez and Jaime; and many cousins, nephews, and nieces. Relatives and friends are invited to call Friday, 7-9pm, and Sat., 9:15-10:30am, at Galzerano Funeral Home, 430 Radcliffe St., Bristol. Funeral Mass 11am at St. Mark Church, Bristol. Burial will follow in St. Mark Cemetery. Special thanks to the staff at St. Francis and Hamilton Grove Nursing Home for their care and compassion. To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Carmen Gonzalez, please visit our flower store.