Manuela Gonzalez Mendez

Manuela Mendez Gonzalez 1935 - 2020 Manuela Mendez Gonzalez, who was lovingly known as Nelly to her family and friends, passed away peacefully in her sleep on May 18, 2020. She was preceded in death by her husband of 45 years, Jose Enrique Gonzalez Gonzalez, Jr. at the age of 65 and her eldest daughter Gloria Haydee Gonzalez Torres at the age of 47. She was born in Cananea, Sonora, Mexico on March 12, 1935 to Bernardina Castro Gonzalez and Juan Mendez Rabago, who passed away when she was 2 years old, and was lovingly raised by her stepfather, Ramon Carrizoza Cordova. Nelly was lively and vivacious and would love to go dancing every weekend as a young lady, where she met the love of her life. They would dance the night away. Without a doubt, they were the most beautiful and graceful couple on the dance floor. They were married on December 26, 1953. Nelly would live most of her life far away from her family, where her husband's work as a Sonoran postal worker would take him to various different cities. Nelly would live in Alamos, Santa Ana, Hermosillo, Tecolote and for the past 54 years, lived in the United States. In April 1965, she courageously uprooted her family of 6 to trek across the border to Arvin, California. It was her and husband's desire to provide their children an opportunity for a better life. She crossed the border, pregnant with her 7th child, the anchor child, Gustavo, who she gave birth to three months later. Five years later she gave birth to her 8th and final child. Nelly was a homemaker up until her youngest child was of school age, when she then volunteered at the school for several years. She then worked as a farm laborer for 20 years to help support her family. She was an exceptional seamstress, who would make and create many beautiful clothes for her daughters throughout the years, as well as all their wedding dresses, quinceanera dresses and many more bridesmaid dresses. Nelly lived in Arvin, Lamont, and Bakersfield in her many years in California. In the past 5 ½ years she resided in a nursing home when she passed away peacefully. In 1999, Nelly became a United States citizen. She and dad had studied long and hard with the hope that both of them would be sworn in as US citizens. Manuela was survived by her seven children: Jose Enrique (Chichi) Gonzalez, Manuel Humberto (Beto) Gonzalez, Ramon Hector (Beny) Gonzalez (Rossana), Patricia (Paty) Gonzalez Villagran (Virgilio Antonio), Maria Elena (Lena) Gonzalez Salgado (Leonardo), Gustavo Gonzalez (Martha) and Thelma Gonzalez Cantu (John). She was also blessed with 30 grandchildren, 38 great grandchildren and 2 great great grandchildren, with another on the way. She was also survived by her siblings in Mexico, Maria Luisa (Tia Puma), Maria del Carmen, Elvira, Francisco Agustin, and preceded in death by her brothers Daivd Luciano, and Ramon Rafael. Nelly lived a long and blessed life filled with love by her family and friends. She was blessed with many true friends, who after so many years, still remember her fondly. Viewing will be held on Tuesday, May 26 at Basham Funeral Home in Lamont. Rosary will be at 7 pm. Funeral and graveside services will be held at the Arvin Lamont Cementery at 10 am on Wednesday, May 27, 2020.