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November 19, 2020Sister Elena Gonzalez died Oct. 31 in Oklahoma City. She was 79.
Sister Gonzalez was born Aug. 20, 1941, to Bernardino Gonzalez and Joaquina Garcia Gonzalez, in Amarillo. She had four brothers; Chief Master Sergeant Ignacio, Father Antonio, Bernardino Angel and Dr. Juan Carlos and four sisters; Maria del Refugio, Maria Esperanza, Maria Guadalupe and Dr. Rosa Margarita.
She attended Our Lady of Guadalupe Elementary School and Saint Mary’s Academy in Amarillo. She earned a bachelor’s degree at Webster University in Saint Louis and a master’s degree in theology at Saint Mary’s University in San Antonio. She received recognitions and certificates for theological studies at the Jesuit School of Theology in California, spiritual direction at the Mercy Center in California; and a doctorate of humane letters at the Episcopal Theological Seminary of the Southwest in Austin. She received honorary degrees in humanities at Humanitarian Award NCCJ; Saint Edward University in Austin; Salve Regina University in Newport, R.I.; and from Georgian Court University in Lakewood, N.J.
Sister Gonzalez entered the Sisters of Mercy on Sept. 8, 1959, at Frontenac, Mo., and made her profession of final religious vows on Aug. 16, 1967. She taught elementary classes in Missouri and Texas. In Plainview, Texas, she was vicar coordinator and director of child development. Sister was missioned to Saint Louis until 1979.
In 2013, Sister Gonzalez was missioned to the Mercy Health Center Convent in Oklahoma City. She enjoyed her volunteer work as a translator at the Mercy Good Samaritan Clinic, assisted with the Sabbatical Program at Oblate School of Theology and with the Sisters Intercultural Studies, and assisted with the diaconate program at the Mexican American Catholic College.
A memorial service was held at Mercy Health Center Convent in Oklahoma City. Memorial Mass will be celebrated at a future date. Celebrant: Father Paul Kodakarakaran. Christian burial was Nov. 5 at Resurrection Memorial Cemetery in Oklahoma City.
