Rafaela R. "Fela" Gonzalez, age 89, passed away peacefully on May 14, 2026, surrounded by the love of her family.

Born on October 24, 1936, in Millet, Texas, Fela later made her home in Cotulla, Texas, where she spent most of her life raising her family and building a life through hard work, faith, and perseverance alongside her husband, Carlos B. Gonzalez.

Fela came from humble beginnings. In her younger years, she and her husband faced many hardships while raising their family, but through every challenge, she remained resilient, resourceful, and deeply devoted to her family. No matter how demanding life became, she carried herself with determination, humor, and strength.

While she worked hard throughout her life, her greatest joy and strongest identity came through her faith as one of Jehovah's Witnesses. She faithfully attended services multiple times each week, participated in door-to-door ministry, and spent countless hours conducting Bible studies and encouraging others through her beliefs. Her faith was not simply something she practiced — it shaped the way she lived.

Fela adored babies and children and had a special way of making every child feel loved and accepted, whether biological, blended, or extended family. She found immense joy in watching children play in her yard, laugh loudly, and simply be silly kids.

She was also unforgettable for her humor and personality. Fela was sarcastic, playful, and absolutely loved scaring her grandchildren when they were kids — hiding in closets, making spooky noises, and laughing while everyone screamed and ran. She could never help but laugh whenever someone inevitably slipped and fell. She also had a habit of waking up before sunrise and loudly banging pots and pans around the kitchen just to wake anyone in the household, only to casually say, "Oh, you're awake," as if she had done nothing at all. It drove everyone crazy, and now those memories are some of the ones her family cherishes most.

Those closest to her will remember her sharp wit, her ridiculous sense of humor, and the little habits that made her uniquely herself — including her habit of folding something in her hands while sitting and talking.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Salvador and Jesucita Ramirez; her sisters Esperanza, Ernestina, Sylvia, Eunice, and Ester; and her brothers Santos, Arturo, and Salvador.

Fela is survived by her husband, Carlos Gonzalez; her brother, Valentine Ramirez; her children, Carlos (Mary) Gonzalez Jr., Saul Gonzalez, Javier (Sherry) Gonzalez, Eliazar (Becky) Gonzalez, and Roselma (Amador) Ayala; her 14 grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; and one great-grandchild on the way.

Her family takes comfort in knowing that her love, faith, humor, strength, and unforgettable personality will continue through the generations she helped raise and shape. In many ways, pieces of Fela live on in her family through the sayings, habits, humor, and little mannerisms they still catch themselves repeating every day.

A memorial service for Fela will be held at Peters Funeral Home in Cotulla, Texas, on Wednesday, May 27, 2026, from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Fela's memory to the Alzheimer's Association or Jackson's Brush Puppies.