Consuelo Gonzalez, Age 93, passed away on February 12, 2026.

Consuelo González de Contreras was born on July 29, 1932, in El Río de Gómez, Jalisco, Mexico, to Gregorio González and Carlota Valerio. She was the third of six children and grew up surrounded by family, tradition, and the strong values that would define her life. Although her legal documents reflected August 20 as her official birthdate, Consuelo always maintained that her true birthday was July 29 — and she celebrated it that way every year. For her, the festivities began on July 29 without exception, because that was the date she knew in her heart to be true.

She spent her early childhood in El Río de Gómez before moving to Las Colonias in Mazamitla, where she continued to grow up and later married. Throughout her life, she carried vivid memories of her upbringing. Her ability to recall names, relationships, and detailed family stories remained extraordinary until the very end. She could describe people, places, and events with remarkable clarity, preserving family history through her storytelling.

After separating from her former husband, the late Francisco Contreras Reyes, Consuelo made the courageous decision to move to Mexico City with her children in order to create new opportunities for them. After several years there, she relocated to Guadalajara, continuing her unwavering commitment to building a better future for her family. She was never passive in life. She faced hardships directly, solved problems head-on, and refused to wait for circumstances to improve — she made them improve.

As her children established themselves in Chicago, they brought her to the United States. Once she was stable and settled, she helped reunite the family by bringing Blanca and Cesar to Chicago as well. In Chicago, she became the heart of every family gathering. She attended birthdays, holidays, celebrations, and everyday moments with enthusiasm and pride. Her love for her children was fierce, protective, and unconditional. She would do absolutely anything for them.

Traveling brought her tremendous joy. Over the years, she had the opportunity to visit beautiful places throughout the world, experiences that filled her with pride and gratitude. She loved exploring new destinations and carried those memories with her. Later in life, she became a snowbird, spending winters in Guadalajara with her daughter Teresa and returning to Chicago to enjoy the warmer months. She deeply loved both Mexico and the United States. When her health no longer allowed her to return to Mexico or continue traveling as she once had, it was one of the most difficult realities for her to accept. Even then, she admired those who traveled and often spoke about how much she missed seeing the world.

Consuelo loved music, dancing, and especially singing. Family celebrations were never complete without her requesting “Hermoso Cariño,” often sung by her son Arturo accompanied by mariachi at special gatherings. Her smile, her laughter, and her singing filled every room with warmth and joy.

She was also known for her love of dining out and her generous spirit. She would invite anyone and everyone to join her with her signature phrase, “Let’s go, I’ll pay.” She had a sweet tooth, particularly for honey and bananas, and would often sneak a little extra honey into her food or drinks when she thought no one was looking — a small act that always made those around her smile.

Her grandchildren and great-grandchildren were the pride of her life. She remembered every name, every birthday, and every connection. Her memory was remarkable, but even greater was her heart. Above all, her greatest wish was that her children and their families would always stay together, remain united, and stay engaged with one another. She believed that family was everything and wanted unity to be her lasting legacy. She spoke often about the importance of staying close, supporting one another, and never allowing distance or time to break those bonds.

On February 12, 2026, Consuelo passed away peacefully in her sleep. In a final blessing, her children and grandchildren were able to be with her before her passing, surrounding her with love and offering their goodbyes.

She will be remembered for her strength, her resilience, her generosity, her stories, her laughter, her singing, her love of life, and her unwavering devotion to her family. She lived boldly, protected fiercely, loved deeply, and left behind a legacy rooted in unity, love, and togetherness.

She is survived by her children Teresa Contreras de Mejía, Abraham Contreras, Arturo Contreras, Francisco Contreras, Blanca Contreras, and Cesar Contreras, and their respective families.

Her smile, her voice, and her love will remain with us always.

Services:

The church service will be held at St. Ferdinand Church, 5900 W. Barry Ave., Chicago, IL 60634, at 10:00 AM CST on February 21.

Funeral, Saturday, February 21, 2026, 9:45AM Family and Friends are asked to gather DIRECTLY at Saint Ferdinand Church, 3101 N. Mason Avenue, Chicago, Illinois for 10:00AM Mass.