Herlinda Daria Gonzalez

December 19, 1931 - June 21, 2008

Herlinda Gonzalez was a wonderful woman, a woman completely devoted to the two most important things in life, her family and her faith. She was a loving wife, mother, and grandmother, and a loyal daughter, sister and friend. Most of all, Herlinda was a caring, Christian lady, and a blessing to all who knew her.Herlinda’s story began on a cool winter day in 1931, as the Christmas holiday approached in Queen City, Texas. Those were such difficult days in this country, caught in the teeth of the Great Depression, when so many Americans were affected so deeply. Yet on December 19, 1931, Manuel and Angela (Vasquez) Amador were blessed with an early gift that holiday, a beautiful baby daughter they named Herlinda Daria. Herlinda was the oldest of 13 children in the large family’s home, and she spent her years as a toddler in Texas, near Texarkana. Her father was a farmer, and her mother cared for the kids and the home. Herlinda was baptized in the Catholic Church in Texarkana, the beginning of a lifelong faith. When Herlinda was a little girl, the family packed up and headed north, to beautiful Mason County, Michigan, near the sandy shores of Lake Michigan, where the large family was raised. Being the oldest, Herlinda helped out a great deal with her younger siblings, and was truly like a second mother to them.Indeed, Herlinda was a wonderful homemaker from an early age, and enjoyed tending to the flower gardens, cooking, and sewing, too. She was an especially gifted seamstress, and made many beautiful dresses for her sisters, and having never using a pattern, Herlinda’s creations were prettier than the styles in the stores!The family all worked hard, but they were far from all work and no play. Herlinda’s father used to treat the family with trips across Lake Michigan to Milwaukee on the weekends, riding the many car ferries that were so popular in those days. It was on one such trip that Herlinda met a handsome young man named Camilo Gonzalez. It was love at first sight for Herlinda, seeing the strapping young C&O Railroad worker, and he couldn’t take his eyes off the beautiful young woman, either. They began dating, and were married on August 23, 1948, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Custer, where Herlinda would remain a member the rest of her life. The newlyweds settled into a little home on Tuttle Road near Scottville, until sadly, the house burned down. They then moved into a beautiful home on N. Reinberg in Scottville, where they would share so many memories, raise their family, and where Herlinda would live the rest of her days. Herlinda and Camilo were blessed with two beautiful daughters, Linda Suzana and Jeanie San Juana, born three years apart. Herlinda was a wonderful wife and mother, and an incredible cook, as well. She made everything from scratch, from her warm homemade tortillas, salsa, and other Mexican dishes, to her delicious pies and chicken soup, a favorite of Abbey's. She enjoyed passing her knowledge on to her children, and later grandchildren, as well. The family did much together over the years, and were a close-knit clan. They continued their many trips across the lake on the car ferry, and it was great fun staying in the box cars, eating and bunking with Camilo’s railroad crews. Every year they headed out West to California, to visit Camilo’s family, enjoying all the many stops along the way. They also took family vacations to Mexico City and Acapulco, and went fishing together on Lake Michigan and Saginaw Bay, as well. Of course, they never missed Mass on Sunday, either, and her faith was an integral part of Herlinda’s life. She was a longtime member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church, and of the St. Rose Altar Society. Passing her faith in the Lord onto her grandchildren was one of her most beloved accomplishments.Herlinda and Camilo were very, very close to their grandkids, and never missed an event or activity, or a chance to be involved in their lives. They took the kids to Disney World, helped raise them, and gave them the solid foundation children need, teaching them so many life’s lessons and discipline. Just as she was with everyone she met, Herlinda was a powerful, positive influence on her grandkids. She loved telling them stories about their family, teaching them to keep with tradition, and to keep history alive. Herlinda enjoyed many things of her own, from sewing, doing embroidery or tending to her gorgeous garden. She also loved watching TV, listening to music, and dancing, too. Herlinda was a fun-loving, social woman, and always looked forward to visit from her family and friends. Most important to Herlinda was always her family and her faith, which were the foundation she built her life upon. She dedicated her life to caring for her family and serving her Lord, who she joined in Heaven on Saturday, June 21, 2008. She was preceded in death by her parents, her beloved husband of 51 years Camilo, her brother Art Amador, and her sister Gloria Gonzalez.I CAN ONLY LEAVE LOVE!When I die . . . give all that's left of me away, to children and old people that wait to die.And if you need to cry, cry for your brother who is walking the street beside you.And when you think of me, put your arms around anyone and give them what you meant to give me.I will leave you something . . . Something better than words or sounds. Love doesn't die, people do.So when all that is left of me is love, Give me away! I'll see you at home in heaven!Author AnonymousHerlinda Daria Amador Gonzalez will be lovingly remembered by her daughters Linda Suzana (Larry Wilhelm) Gonzalez, and Jeanie San Juana (Norbert) Castonia both of Scottville; her grandchildren Carlee, Lindsay, Abbey, and Lucas Castonia, and Michelle (David) Dalesandro; her precious great-grandchildren Nicolas and Korryn Dalesandro; her brothers and sisters Celia Gonzalez of Fresno, CA, Albert (Bertha) Amador of Illinois, Ophelia Bowling of Bear Lake, John Amador of Scottville, Angela (Chuck) Bartlett of Branch, Manuela (Emmett) Malone of Riverside, CA, Susan Amador of Manistee, Alvera Lynn and Yolanda (William) Lynn both of Ludington, and Mario Amador of Muskegon, and numerous nieces and nephews.