Josephine Gonzales Obituary

Josephine Gonzales, 78 years young and every bit as stubborn as her cows, decided to ride home to Heaven's gate on July 10, 2025, after dodging death more times than we can count. We're pretty sure Heaven needed someone to cook, braid hair and tell stories. Born in Las Vegas, New Mexico on October 25, 1946, she grew up and graduated in 1965. Josephine and family bought and built the dream ranch in 1970 where she lived life exactly the way she wanted, loud, bright, and a little bit flashy. She is preceded in death by her parents Esther and Alex, and her brother Sonny Gonzales. She is survived by her son Joseph Lopez and fiancée Tiffany, grandson AJ Lopez, brother Anthony Gonzales and partner Sheryl, nieces and nephews Adam and wife Danielle Gonzales, Kevin Gonzales, Amy and husband Waylon Fortune, Kelly Gonzales and Robbie Jacques, Alistair and wife Cari Gonzales, Katy and husband Justin Schwartz, and her great nieces and nephews Jason, Brynn & Jude (Adam), Malayna, Avery, Mayson & Matyson (Kevin),Josie, Jesse, Eliza & Caroline (Amy), Anthony, Kody & Kasey (Kelly), Aiden, Gracie & Xander (Alistair), Kai, Zayne & Sol (Katy). God daughters Clarice and Clarissa and their children Noah, Mitchy, Conner and Paige. She built a legendary career at Allsup's, fueled by chimichangas, small talk, and a little gossip. After a brief fling with Gambles Store, she went back to her true love, Allsup's, ultimately retiring in 2000. Her hobbies included watching daily Mass, the same local news repeatedly on a loop by day and Polka TV by night - with of course the news break at noon for the rosary. She was always hosting her own personal food network for any unsuspecting guests that stopped by and proudly wearing shirts loud enough to be seen from space. She raised her beloved son Joseph, spoiled her grandson AJ beyond measure, and proudly stalked every bit of his life, only to report it back to anyone within earshot ... over and over. She was so proud of him, but even prouder to be his grandma. Her fashion sense was as bold as her personality, bright shirts, big laughs, and even bigger servings of beets, asparagus, yes, that funky vegetable that made us all pee weird colors. And we will never forget her craze for sugar, heavy cream and shredded cheese snack that only she could love. Her cooking was legendary, her chocolate candy stash unrivaled, and her Slim Jim addiction was contagious. Her biscochitos will be missed by all. She survived about nine+ lives' worth of health issues, elk collisions, and rollovers, you name it she endured it. But her scars were her stories, and her battle wounds were her legend.
Josephine will be sent off the way she lived, surrounded by family and friends with a whole lot of love. A public viewing will be held at Rogers Mortuary on Monday, July 21, 2025, from 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM. A Mass of Christian Burial will take place Tuesday, July 22, 2025, at 10:00 AM at St. Gertrude Church in Mora, NM with Fr. Dale Craig, S.O.L.T as celebrant and the following serving as Pallbearers; Adam Gonzales, Kevin Gonzales, Alistair Gonzales, Robbie Jacques, Justin Schwartz, Mike Trujillo, Anthony Gonzales, and Aiden Gonzales. Honorary Pallbearers; Waylon Fortune, James Jr "Mitchy" Bonney, and Noah Vega. A meal will follow the Mass at the Mora VFW, where all are invited to share memories and comfort one another. A private burial will be conducted at a later date, where she will finally be home to rest and do word search puzzles for all eternity. Flowers welcomed at Rogers Mortuary, but if you really want to honor her, tell someone you love them, cook them a meal, wear something wildly colorful and most important share a Josephine story to make sure her legacy lives on forever .... And of course, bonus points if you repeat the story more than once! Arrangements are entrusted to and under the care of Rogers Mortuary, 600 Reynolds Ave., Las Vegas, NM 87701, 505-425-3511 or 1-800-479-3511. If sending the family a sympathy card via our online service you may mail it directly to the family by clicking "Send to Family Address".