Audelia Gonzales, age 93, passed away peacefully on August 31, 2026 in her home in Santa Paula, CA. She was surrounded by her family.
Audelia was born in Michoacán, Mexico. She lost her parents at an early age, which left her and her beloved siblings to be cared for by extended family and by each other. Even though she went through hard times as a child, she remained soft, warm, and kind. We never saw her angry. She was truly the heart of the family, a woman whose greatest purpose in life was caring for the people she loved. As the mother of twelve children, she devoted herself to family with a strength and tenderness that words cannot describe. She lovingly cared for and babysat all her grandchildren and many other family's children, giving them the same warmth and attention she gave her own kids. Audelia was an amazing cook, and so many of our memories are tied to the food she prepared. We all remember the smell of her cooking delicious food and making sure there was enough for everyone. She also had a soft heart for small animals, especially dogs, cats, and birds. She believed in the healing power of natural remedies and plants. She loved listening to music in the morning, and she had a strong faith in God and was committed to daily prayer. Audelia's life was not defined by possessions or achievements. Instead, her greatest accomplishment was the family she loved so deeply. Audelia is survived by her sister Lidia Gil-Sanguino; her children: Griselda Gonzales, Richard Gonzales, Esther Gonzales, Anita Ziegeler, Susie Carr, Alfonso Gonzales, Margaret Gonzales, Jennie Dillon-Gonzales, and Henry Gonzales; her grandchildren: Alfred Buenrostro Jr., Richard Gonzales Jr., Eileen Curiel, Jennifer Harper, Ted Carr Jr., Lauren Lynch, Gabriel Buenrostro, Brandon Carr, Gregory Ziegeler, and Alicia Gonzales; her great grandchildren: Jenesis, Cash, Isaiah, Ian, Adam, Hannah, Jacob, Damian, and London. She was predeceased by her parents Sacramento and Gracia Sanguino, husband, Roberto Gonzales; daughter, Rachel Buenrostro; son, Rudy Gonzales; grandson, David Gonzales; daughter in law, Juanita Gonzales and son, Robert Gonzales, and her siblings Anita, Jose Luis, Jesus, and Beto. Thank you mom for every sacrifice, every prayer, every moment. You spent your life taking care of everyone else. Now it is time for you to rest surrounded by your loved ones and in God's loving arms.