By Maryalivn Gonzales
A silent unseen blessing is Margarita Gonzalez, a service worker who has been serving our community for 32 years here at St. Elizabeth Seton.
Margarita started in 1989 when her three daughters were all in school, and she found herself wanting to do something meaningful with her life. As she considered the idea of going to work outside the home, her neighbor Cecilia Telles, who had been working as the housekeeper at St. Elizabeth Seton and was going to be leaving, sought a replacement. She liked the idea that it would be part time and she knew she could handle the job requirements, such as cleaning and vacuuming offices and also the laundering of church items such as linen, vestments and garments. She also would do housekeeping for the residence.
Margarita and her husband came to Arizona in 1966, both from Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico.
They have been married 45 years and have four Grandchildren, all of whom have been Baptized and made their First Communion. She also participated in their religious education with Linda Watkins.
Margarita expressed so much joy when she spoke of her relationship with God and how her service here brought her comfort, no matter what struggles she had at home.
She shared with me the loss of her oldest daughter who passed away at the age of 22. Though this part of the interview was difficult for her, she said just being surrounded by so many who have been kind and loving to her fills her heart with gratitude for the blessings she has received. She loves doing whatever she can for our Pastor, Fr Kilian. She says this is her one step to heaven.
Thank you Margarita, for the love you give us in the silence of your service.
