JOSE L. GONZALEZ / 1929-2014 Former Chicago resident and patriarch Jose L. Gonzalez, 84, died peacefully January 24th, at the International Nursing Home at 48th & Western. A service will be held at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church at 4500 South Ashland at 10 am January 28th. Jose was born in Arandas, Jalisco on July 6th,1929. He came to this country in 1950 for a new life and to start a family of his own. He met Esther Martinez and married her in 1955. They had their first child Annabelle in 1958, followed by their son, Alberto, in 1959, followed by another son Eddie in 1961, another son, Hector, in 1968, and another daughter, Monica in 1977. Jose was a long time employee of Central Steel & Wire Company at 51st and California. Jose and his wife Esther were life-long residents of the tightly knit Back of the Yards Neighborhood. They had many friends and family to spend good times with. Jose was a very hard working man who spent many hours gardening and working on his home. Both him and Esther had a great love of music and singing. They enjoyed many trips back to their hometown to see their huge families in Mexico. Jose owned a second home and a beautiful tequila ranch close to his beloved home town of Arandas of which he even composed and wrote a song. In his retirement years, he continued to keep busy with various home projects and his garden along with his continued travels and the support of family members. Jose is survived by his oldest son Alberto, son Eddie, and youngest daughter Monica, who is married to Donato Iocco. Jose is also survived by his grandchildren, Demitra and Constantine, children of Alberto, also survived by Hector and Matthew, children of Eddie and his wife Amada. Jose was preceded in death by his oldest daughter Annabelle in 1976, his third son Hector in 1991, and his beloved wife, Esther in 2011. He lived his life to the absolute fullest and up to the very last moment. His entire life was the living embodiment of "never give up, never back down, there is always something next to get done . . . . "