Lucy Gonzalez

Luz “Lucy” Idalia Gonzalez, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, passed away peacefully on June 15, 2025, in Springville, Utah. She was 91 years old. Born on June 28, 1933, in Bayamón, Puerto Rico, Lucy was the youngest of five and the first daughter of Jose Gonzalez and Vicenta Luna. She lived with her family in Bayamon until her father became ill and her mother was forced to find employment on an impoverished island. To ensure she was fed and cloth, Vicenta placed Lucy in a girls’ home from age seven to twelve. Shortly after her father passed in 1942, she was reunited with her mother in New York City.

At sixteen, Lucy left high school to help support her family, folding shirts in a Manhattan factory. She loved the independence working in the city gave her. She met her husband, Tony Gonzalez, at her brother’s engagement party. Though she was sick that evening and barely remembered it, Tony never forgot seeing her and often recalled thinking she was the most beautiful woman in the room. They married on December 20, 1953, and together raised seven children. Lucy earned her GED at age 55 and an associate equivalent degree at age 75. She worked as a dedicated paraprofessional in the Mesa School District for many years. A gifted cook and avid crafter, she taught herself to crochet, knit, sew, quilt, tile, and wallpaper by checking out books from the library. Her chocolate chip cookies were legendary. She bowled competitively, scoring over 200 many times, with a personal best of 235. She was also a devoted garage sale shopper, proud of every deal she found. In 1976, Lucy joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and as a new member in Puerto Rico, served as Relief Society President. She’s best remembered, however, for her legendary dance moves at girls’ camp.

Above all, Lucy will be remembered for her quiet acts of service—feeding the sick, comforting the lonely, and reaching out to those in need without expectation of recognition. She lived with humility, humor, and grace. Lucy is survived by her children: Anthony (Karen), William (Tonia), Theresa (Alan), Vincent (Flora), Lucy Ann (Douglas), Joseph (Gabby), and Michael (Kylie) as well as dozens of grandchildren and great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband Tony, grandson Gian Carlos, and great-grandson Cole Wyatt David Perkins.

A viewing will be held on Friday, June 20th from 7:00-8:30 pm at the LDS Church Building 1470 East 130 North, Spanish Fork, Utah. Funeral services will be held Friday, June 27th, at 10:00 am at the LDS Church Barkley Building 1500 E. 6th Ave, Mesa, AZ. Interment will be at 2:00 pm at the National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona 2929 E. Pinnacle Peak Rd, Phoenix, AZ.

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