Ruth "Cuca" Gonzales

On Sunday, April 23, 2023, Ruth “Cuca” Gonzales passed away peacefully with her loving family by her side. After a long illness she is reuniting with her beloved husband Gilbert who passed away 52 years ago. Ruth was born on July 4, 1930 in Oxnard, CA to parents Luis and Mary Brown Monzon. She was very proud to be a 5th generation Californian whose descendents immigrated to the U.S. from Portugal and Mexico. She was raised on the John Lloyd Butler Ranch (currently known as Rancho Santa Clara del Norte) on the Oxnard Plains. She attended the original El Rio Elementary School and the original Oxnard High School. She married Gilbert Gonzales on March 18, 1950 at the Santa Clara Chapel in El Rio, CA.

As a testament to Ruth’s work ethic, she began working as an assembly line worker in 1946 and retired in 1985. During her career she worked for national companies such as Coastal Valley Canning, Heublein, and Nabisco where she made many lasting friendships. After her retirement she continued to enjoy life spending time with family and friends. She especially enjoyed shopping for bargains and lunches out with her cousin, Jeanette Ramirez. She looked forward to traveling to Ensenada to spend time with her in-laws. She thoroughly enjoyed her travels to Mexico, Puerto Rico, Las Vegas, and multiple cruises. Once the travel bug caught up with her family teased her that she would join the first car backing out of the driveway if she knew there was a trip involved.

She is survived her children, Barbara Estrada of Long Beach, Yolanda Perez (Ken) and Daniel Gonzales (Carla) of Oxnard, and Linda Flores (Armando) of Camarillo. Grandchildren Eric Estrada, Michele Buckley, Victor Ochoa, Daniel Gonzales, Jr, Natalie Lajoie, Erin Calisto, Nicole Broyles, David Flores, Jennifer Flores, Michael Gonzales, Jr, Mark Gonzales and 21 great-grandchildren. She is also survived by sister Clara Martinez. She was preceded in death by her husband Gilbert (1971), sons Michael Sr. (2000), and David (1954), parents Luis and Mary Brown Monzon, brothers Edward and Arthur Monzon, and sisters Theresa Reveles, Irene Segovia, Della Amador, and Louise Macias.

A special acknowledgement and thank you to Jessie Nava for all her help, kindness, and support to Ruth and her family throughout Ruth’s illness. Thank you also to caregivers Mary, Catherine and Maria.

Funeral mass for Ruth will be on Thursday, May 11, 2023 at the Santa Clara Chapel, 1333 Ventura Blvd., Oxnard at 10:00 am. Interment will follow at the Santa Clara Cemetery, 2370 North H St. Oxnard, CA. Ruth has been entrusted to the care of the family owned and operated Perez Family Funeral Home, 1347 Del Norte Road, Camarillo, CA www.perezfamilyfuneralhome.com