Maria "Mary" Gonzales Zuniga died Saturday, February 17, 2024 in San Antonio, Texas.  She was born December 29, 1950 in Tilden, Texas, the fourth child of Ismael M. and Dolores Rodriguez Gonzales.

Mary grew up and attended school in Tilden. As a young girl she helped her mother in the kitchen and became an excellent cook. She passed on the recipes and the techniques she learned from her mom to her daughter and her sons. She had the ability to put together an amazing meal from whatever she had at hand, and no recipe was needed. It was also well known that Mary had slippery fingers and she was not allowed to wash dishes because she ultimately broke a dish every time she did the dishes. "Don't let Mary do the dishes she will break something", was heard in the background of family dinners. Perhaps it was her way of getting out of the chore.

She remembered as a child going to school in Tilden taking tacos to school for lunch when she just wanted a sandwich on white bread. Later in life she would say, we were eating tacos when tacos weren't cool. Now everyone is so crazy about tacos!

Her skills in the kitchen lead her to work at the convent at St. Anthony de Padua for a few years assisting them in the kitchen and with whatever else needed to done.

One evening at a dance in Tilden she met a young man Manuel Zuniga, Jr. from Charlotte. They married soon after on February 26, 1967, and made their home in Charlotte on a small ranch next to her in-law's home. They went on to have 4 children.

Mary instilled the importance of education in her children and pushed them to further their education. After her children were out of college, she went on to earn a real estate license, she was a certified paralegal, a certified nurses' aide and then became a licensed vocational nurse. Her caregiving role began as a young lady when she cared for her husband's grandmother who was suffering from breast cancer. She also worked at the St Anthony retirement home for priests as a caregiver and as a private caregiver in the area.

Mary spent the past few years as a Resident of Franklin Park Alamo Heights where she enjoyed making new friends she enjoyed socializing participating in Bingo, Happy Hour and Sunday Brunch and some exciting games of chair volleyball with them. One of her favorite activities was Halloween when they brought the local kindergarteners over in their costumes for Trick or Treat. She loved to see the kids in their costumes and bought pounds of candy for them. She loved Bingo especially when she won, she displayed her Bingo jar full of her winnings proudly. Bingo stakes could get pretty high at times. She did like to gamble and made 3 trips a year to Vegas for many years, where she enjoyed gambling and the shows, she was a huge Elvis Presley fan and made at least 3 trips to Graceland during her lifetime.

Mary always kept a positive attitude even when she became ill. She remained as independent as possible. When she went out she would walk out to the portico she would push her walker over to the wall and say "Let's go" and get in the car.

Mary was proud of her children for their educational, professional and personal accomplishments. She had a great love for her four grandchildren, Gabriella Alexis (my little Gabi), Sophia Grace (mi Sophia-ita) Jeffrey Luciano (Luke, my Lukey or Luke the Duke), Manuel Alexander IV (Alex, Baby) taking the time to check on them on a nearly daily basis. Making sure they weren't having to do hard chores.

Mary was preceded in death by her parents, Ismael and Dolores, her husband Manuel, brother George and her nephew Michael Rachal.

She is survived by her four children Dr. Betty Bennett (Jason Robertson), Thomas Zuniga (Sonya), Manuel Zuniga III (Melissa) and Rick Anthony Zuniga.  Four grandchildren Gabriella, Sophia, Luke and Alex, siblings, Josefine Fowler and husband Nick, Ismael Gonzales, Jr and wife Socorro, Helen Rachal and husband Michael, Gilbert Gonzales and wife Grace, Ricky Gonzales, Ruben Gonzales and wife Roxanne, Ellie Gonzales, Robert Gonzales and wife Cricket and numerous nieces and nephews whom she adored and allowed to drink mimosas at 6 or so the story.

Visitation will be conducted 6:00pm until 8:00pm Sunday February 25, 2024 at the Hurley Funeral Home in Pleasanton, Texas. Rosary will be conducted at 7:00pm.

Funeral Mass will be conducted 11:00 AM Monday, February 26, 2024 at St. Anthony de Padua Catholic Church in 102 Lorenz Road, San Antonio, Texas 78209.