Dora Maria Gonzales

Dora Maria Gonzales, 83, passed away peacefully on January 6, 2025, in Harlingen, Texas. She was born March 4, 1941, in La Rancheria in Rio Hondo, Texas to Guadalupe S. Ortega and Santos Ramos Ortega.

Dora was a graduate of Texas State Technical Institute (T.S.T.I.) where she studied bookkeeping. She dedicated over 30 years of her career as a bookkeeper with Lonnie Davis and Associates before retiring. A devout member of the Catholic faith, she cherished family gatherings, took joy in her ranch animals, and took pride in maintaining her beautiful yards.

She is preceded in death by her loving parents, her loving husband, Ricardo Gonzales; and her siblings, Andrea O. Juarez, Guadalupe (Chato) Ortega Jr., Anita Ortega, Adela O. Tostado, Eleno Ortega Sr., Oralia O. Robles, Aurora Ortega Juarez, Marcelina O. Marin, and Roberto Ortega.

Dora is survived by her son, John Bruno Ortega, RN (Ailene), along with her grandchildren: Justice Brandon Ortega, Eleazar Alejandro Solis Ortega (Jennifer), John Bruno Ortega II, and her great-granddaughter Kamila Noelle Solis Ortega. She is also survived by her siblings: Celso R. Ortega, Ofelia Torres, and Matilde Rodriguez, as well as her beloved Border Collie, Panda.

The Ortega family will receive friends and relatives on Thursday, January 9, 2025, from 1:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at Buck Ashcraft San Benito Funeral Home. A recitation of the Holy Rosary will begin at 7 o’clock Thursday evening. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday, January 10, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. at St. Helen’s Catholic Church in Rio Hondo. Following the Mass, Dora will be laid to rest at Anaquitas Cemetery in Rio Hondo.

Honored to serve as pallbearers are John Bruno Ortega, John Bruno Ortega II, Justice Brandon Ortega, Leopoldo Martinez, and Eleazar Alejandro Solis Ortega. Honorary pallbearers will be Emilio Ortega, Michael Lucio Rodriguez.