Julia Gonzalez

Tanita de Leon, who resides in Cupey Alto, Puerto Rico is here with us today.

At the very young age of approximately 10, she moved to Rio Caňas to take care of an elderly couple. At

the age of 14, she decided to leave the couple and look for one of her own sisters in Rio Piedras. However,

when she found her, her sister lived in a very small apartment so she couldn't stay with her. A friend of

her sister advised that she knew someone who was looking for a nanny to take care for their little boy, so

she offered to go take care of the little boy for them. She was welcomed with open arms and she stayed

with them until the age of 18 when one day she met the love of her life, José Aurelio “Pepe” Gonzalez, at

“La Plaza de Recreación” in Rio Piedras. He was stationed in Fort Buchanan, a military base in Puerto

Rico.

They got married when she was 21 years old and she moved to Fajardo to live with her mother-in-law

while her husband was deployed in Panama. Their first child was born and she was named Zulma,

followed by Myrta and two boys, José and Efrain.

In February of 1953, her husband relocated to The Bronx, in NY. He wanted her to go with him and leave

the children until they got settled, but she told him that she was not leaving her children. He started

working as a welder and over one year later on August 26th, 1954, the entire family was able to move to

The Bronx, including her mother-in-law.

Julia was a stay-at-home mother while her children attended school.

She accepted The Lord as her personal Savior at the end of 1954 at Christian Mission John 3:16.

In 1956, she began taking care of a 5-month old baby girl named Maria Lee, who would often stay over at

their house up to the age of 7. She was the little sister to her own children and still is to this day.

Julia worked in a toy factory for a couple of years. Her last job was at a commercial laundry facility in

Mount Vernon, NY. Although she didn't speak English, her bosses respected her work ethics because she

was very good at her job and was a responsible person.

On September 3rd, 1974, she lost the love of her life and now they are together again in heaven with their

youngest son, Efrain who passed away on March 22nd, 2014.

In January 1976, she moved into the downstairs apartment of Zulma and Johnny's newly purchased

house on Homer Avenue. She continued to work at the laundry facility until the business was closed. She

then stayed at home and took care of all the cooking and laundry for Zulma and Johnny. She cooked

dinner every night so that when Zulma got home from work, dinner was ready. And if she cooked

something that her grandson, Little Johnny, didn't like, she would prepare a separate meal for him. Her

other grandson, Joey Gonzalez, kept her company for two years when he moved in with her during his

junior and senior years of high school. Joey has continued to stay in communication with her weekly

throughout the years since he moved to Arizona.

She began to care for Christopher Cruz when he was very young. He became the baby of the house. She

took good care of him for many years and she loved him dearly.

On March 7th, 1991 she went to live with her son Efrain in Puerto Rico. A week later, her daughter

Zulma and her husband Johnny moved to Puerto Rico as well, and they all lived in the same house in

Cupey Alto.

She didn't know too much about farming, but she became a very good farmer. She would wake up at 6

am, have a cup of coffee, and by 7 am she was ready to go to “la finca” with a gallon of water until 2 pm.

She loved to burn trash and yard waste on the property as well.

On June 7th, 2014, she moved to Florida due to the death of her youngest son, Efrain. It was the most

sorrowful and devastating experience at the age of 90 to find her son deceased.

Julia was an extraordinary and remarkable woman who was loving, generous, caring, and had a

tremendous sense of humor. She had a very contagious smile and laughter. She was a very good cook! Her

rice with chicken and beans was her best meal. One day while they were still living in The Bronx, Zulma

and Myrta came home to find her with a wrap on her head, which was her signature look when cooking.

They said to each other that they were going to eat good that night, just to find out that she had only

cooked white rice and boiled green bananas with no meat.

Julia spent her last days living with Zulma and Johnny until she went to be with The Lord on Friday,

December 27th, 2019, just weeks after celebrating her 96th birthday. She loved The Lord and we are

certain that she is resting in His loving arms.

Julia is survived by her sister, Tanita de Leon, her children, Zulma Negron (and her husband Juan

“Johnny” Negron), Myrta Ruiz (and her husband José “OJ” Ruiz), and José “Cuco” Gonzalez. She has

five grandchildren (John Negron, Joseph Gonzalez, Lizanne Babineau, Cristina Gonzalez, and Diane Gonzalez) and six great-grandchildren (John Anthony Negron, Victoria Ashleigh Negron, Brianna Negron, Laura Gonzalez, Skyelar Babineau, and Brady Babineau). She also has numerous nephews, nieces, great-nephews,

and great-nieces.

Julia lived a wonderful life with a loving husband that catered to her, and she was very proud of her four

children.

Julia will always be in our hearts and will be missed.