Virginia Gurule

Virginia R. Gurule

August 27, 1934 - November 24, 2017

When we think of the passing of Virginia R Gurule, we think of an ‘end of an era,’ because she was truly a remarkable woman. Virginia was born to Brigido Ramon and Laura Flores. She grew up in Austin, Texas with her brothers and sisters; Rachel, Papo (Robin), Freddy (Jane), and Diana. She did her part in helping with the cooking, cleaning and taking care of her younger brothers. Even though she was the middle child, her nickname was Baby.

While at a dance in Austin she met her future husband. They married in Austin and moved to Placitas, New Mexico. She was a military wife to Chief Master Sergeant, Pete Gurule Jr. for 64 years. While Pete was overseas Virginia stayed in Placitas with his mother Aurelia and his sister Lizzie (Jake), where they bonded over cooking.

Together, Pete and Virginia traveled the world, and were stationed in Turkey, Hawaii, and Louisiana, just to name a few. Virginia was a mother of three boys, Pete III (Melinda), Gordon (Debbie), and Anthony. She led her boys as a Den mother in cub scouts, and then they went on to boy scouts and eagle scouts. She also made sure they had a relationship with God. Her boys served as altar boys while working towards their catholic sacraments.

Virginia kept busy, and when she wasn't at home raising her kids or hosting a party, she worked as a day care teacher and later as a school librarian. She loved children, enjoyed teaching, and molding young minds.

Later Virginia became a grandmother to Mike, Gordon Jr., Melinda Jr., Samantha, Tiffany, Xena, and Morgan. She was the heart of her family and holidays were always celebrated in her home. No one ever left her house hungry. “There’s plenty,” she would say, “take leftovers!” Thanksgiving was when she put together the most food out of the year, and when the most family was able to come together in her home.

Thanksgiving was also when she took her granddaughters in to live with her, as a Foster parent. She became a mother for the second time in her life, but this time to girls. She taught them how to cook, clean, garden, and sew. She also made sure they had a relationship with god, so she took them to church and they completed their catholic sacraments. When they grew up and had children of their own, she taught them how to be good mothers.

Then Virginia had her great-grandchildren, Jake, Justin, Gordon III, Jade, Jasmine, Brandon, Marissa, Hannah, Cassius, Perseus, Unity, and Maximus. She loved to feed her grandbabies and great-grandbabies. She had met her last grandson, Maximus, on Thanksgiving before she passed.

When Virginia had taken ill her granddaughters were there to take care of her. She was on home hospice for a year. She was never alone, and was loved just the same. Her family enjoyed the time they had left with her. She will never be forgotten, and always be missed.

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