In Memoriam : Guadalupe Gonzalez

Guadalupe Gonzalez Guadalupe Flores Gonzalez - age: 92
(August 20, 1932 to June 13, 2025 )
Resident of Exeter, California

Visitation Information:
Visitation will take place on Thursday, June 26, 2025 from 2-6 p.m. at Evans Miller Guinn Exeter Chapel at 425 North Kaweah Avenue, Exeter, CA 93221 with Rosary beginning at 6:00 p.m. Mass will take place on Friday, June 27, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. at Saint Rita's Catholic Church in Tulare at 954 S O St, Tulare, CA 93274. Burial will take place at 12:30 p.m. at the Exeter District Cemetery at 719 E Marinette Ave, Exeter, CA 93221 follow by a reception from 1-4 p.m. at the Exeter Women's Club in Exeter at 201 Kaweah Ave, Exeter, CA 93221.

Obituary:
Our remarkable 92 year old dad and Papa Lupe was born on August 20th, 1932 in Ocotlan, Jalisco, Mexico. He entered heaven on Friday June 13, 2025. We are broken-hearted and in disbelief. We are abundantly blessed to have had our Dad and Papa Lupe alongside us for many incredible and memorable years. Now, we ask ourselves “how do we move forward without him in our lives, at gatherings, our homes, for hamburgers at In-N-Out and the holidays?” It will be difficult and sad, but if Dad were here, he’d say “No les queda otra, pero que seguir adelante.” Which translates to, “You have no other choice but to move forward.”
Dad, Papa Lupe was a humble man, kind, strong, independent, ever so stubborn, respectful, friendly, always upbeat, giving (often to a fault), always positive and encouraging, and proud of all of his children and who they had become. He was the proudest and hardest working farmworker ever.
While us, his children, did not enjoy working out in the fields, our dad loved it. We could not and still to this day, understand how or why. Growing up with a steadfast worker for a dad was challenging but because he too had a hard upbringing, he knew the hard worker characteristic built character and it did in each of his children and even grandchildren.
For a man with no education, our dad was a teacher, mentor, and role model. He instilled in each of us a strong work ethic, to respect ourselves, how to respect and treat others regardless of skin color, socioeconomic status, religion, and ethnicity. We saw and learned how he interacted with familiar and unfamiliar people treating them all equally.
Dad, Papa Lupe was a simple man. He didn’t need anything fancy or expensive to bring him joy. We were forever trying to get him to change out of his khaki work shirt, jeans and workboots – often without any luck. He loved eating at In-N-Out, IHOP, Alejandra’s here in Exeter and holiday meals with family especially if it included his favorite dessert – the “ugly cake” Angie made. He received immense joy sharing oranges, avocados & pomelos picked by himself from his own trees. He often shared freshly cooked beans with my sister Nena and bought me my favorite pan dulce – puerquitos. Oh, how we’ll miss these cherished deliveries made by he himself.
Marching peacefully in the late 1960’s alongside Cesar Chavez, our dad felt compelled to demand for agricultural farmworker rights, better wages, safer working conditions, and basic human rights for all. Due to the significance of this movement, dad took us to march to educate us and teach us that unity and nonviolence could bring about monumental change. Non-participation was not an option. His heart was full of pride when his children met Cesar Chavez and Robert F. Kennedy Jr at a march in Delano, CA. Guadalupe Gonzalez, our admired and respected dad, believed to his core, then and now, that no matter documented or undocumented, these are people working hard for a living to feed their family and to feed the world. Dad’s heart was big and full of compassion for others especially farmworkers, the poor, the disadvantaged and those facing horrible living conditions, ‘war’ and injustices around the globe. Through Spanish news, dad continued to keep himself informed about world events to further strengthen his awareness.

Life will no longer be the same as we journey on parentless with an enormous void in our lives and heart. Nonetheless, we must find comfort and strength in one another knowing each of us, Nena, myself, Angie, Mark, and Mando carry the teachings, guidance, heart, virtues, work ethic, words of wisdom and great great love from two imperfect yet ever so special human beings - our mom and dad.


Dad, Papa Lupe you will forever be missed.

Dad was predeceased by our beautiful mom, Jenny Rose Gonzalez and two sons, Guadalupe Gonzalez Jr. and David Gonzalez; his parents Martiniano Gonzalez and Elena Flores Gonzalez; brothers Jose, Daniel, and Adolfo Gonzalez; sisters Juana and Esther.
He is survived by five children, Elena Gomez (Tranquilino), Cathy Rodarte, Angie Marques (Mario), Mark Gonzalez (Dolores), and Armando Gonzalez. Siblings; Alberto Gonzalez and Graciela Gomez Gonzalez. Thirteen grandchildren, fourteen great-grandchildren and six great-great-grandchildren.