Jennie Juanita Gonzales

Jennie Juanita Gonzales

Jennie Juanita Gonzales beloved mother, grandmother, and wife passed away peacefully March 25, 2025, at the age of 83.  She was born in Brighton, Colorado, November 18, 1941, and lived there her entire life.

She attended South Elementary and graduated from high school in 1959.  Jennie was a very social person who had many close friends, and, through hard work and dedication, excelled academically.  She was very ambitious and, while in elementary school, she asked for a job at the cafeteria.  The staff was very impressed with her and hired her on the spot.

Jennie earned twenty-five cents every Friday and she fondly remembered how she would eagerly run to the grocery store across the street from the school to buy candy for herself and her two younger sisters.  She would also bring home left-over pastries and food that the cafeteria staff would give her.  That was greatly appreciated by her then widowed mother and elderly maternal grandmother who lived with them.  Her strong work ethic and commitment was evident as Jennie continued to work at the cafeteria throughout her middle and high school years.

While in high school she was in the Junta Club and ran for Head Girl but lost by one vote.  Jennie was a devoted Catholic and had such a beautiful voice that she used to sing in the church choir and at school.  She learned to play the accordion while in middle school and performed once at school playing Lady of Spain.

As an adult, while working full-time and managing two children, she earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Metropolitan State University in Denver, Colorado. Jennie immediately applied her degree where she had an impressive and media-recognized career as a schoolteacher for twenty-four years.  She was adored by her students and was honored as “A+ Teacher” by Channel 4 News in March 1994 - she was featured twice on that news cast of March 15th.  The Commerce City Express ran her story and picture in their March 8, 1994, edition.

She is survived by her husband Joe Gonzales who she married in 1962, her son Joe Gonzales III and wife Mary Jo Maslow, their children Joseph Gonzales and Ethan Gonzales, her son Dion Gonzales and wife Amanda Causey, their children Haden Gonzales, Brody Gonzales, Lila Gonzales, and Finnley Gonzales.  As well as sisters Linda Trujillo, Charlotte Lopez, Helen Sanchez, and brother George Trujillo, also many nieces and nephews.

Her sisters Josie Lopez Rimbert and Nellie Sisneros preceded her in death.  As well as brother Joseph Lopez and his wife Eleanor.

Our Jennie left a legacy of love and hard work and will be missed dearly by all of us who love her, but we will be comforted by the knowledge that her love will always be with us.

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