Olga "Nana" Maria Gonzalez

Olga Maria Gonzalez (“Nana”), loving nana, sister, aunt, daughter, and friend, passed away on June 3, 2023, in Orange, CA.

Olga was born on May 18, 1933, in Tijuana, Mexico, one of seven children.  In her 90 years, Olga lived a life full of love, warmth, and creativity.

From her early days, Olga helped support her father and family, first working in a bakery where she found her love of the kitchen and honed her baking and cooking skills. Olga moved to the United States in 1962, later becoming a proud naturalized American citizen.  In Santa Ana, she joined the Zarate family to help Dr. and Mrs. Alfredo Zarate raise four children (Alfredo, Jr.; Marisa; Alberto (“Abi”); and Juan) and create a loving homelife.  She quickly became a beloved member of the Zarate family.

Olga was a second mother and grandmother to many family and friends.  Olga was always available to loved ones, often serving as a pragmatic voice and source of empathy and “tough love” for those seeking her counsel.  In times of grief, Olga was always a compassionate pillar.  Her family looked to her for advice and support, and she dispensed it along with hugs willingly to family and friends alike.  Nana was a mother-hen who fixed problems, healed wounds, and taught valuable lessons.

Olga was a remarkable cook whose food was legendary.  Anyone lucky enough to taste her culinary delights always marveled and wanted more. “Nana’s” food and kitchen were the centerpiece of family life and traditions, with wonderful smells filling the home: New Year’s Day tamales; Cuban “congri” and fried plantains with turkey at Thanksgiving; Spanish “arroz con pollo”; Summer-time quesadillas, barbeques, and shakes; Chicken soup to cure all ailments; Chimichangas so famous they were shipped cross-country for hungry college students.  She cooked with passion, creativity, and love, and she reveled in seeing the joy her food brought to others.  Nana will always be a culinary legend.

Olga was an incredibly skilled and imaginative craftswoman who created beautiful artwork.  She crafted decorative figurines and mirrors; knit beautiful scarves, blankets, and pillows; and sewed elaborate costumes and dresswear.  Halloween was often a spooky spectacle thanks to Olga’s handiwork, with intricate costumes, masks, and decorations.  Christmas was a wonderland of color, gifts, and adornments thanks to Nana’s creativity.  Birthday parties were always produced with detail and care.  With her hands and creativity, Nana weaved, crafted, and stitched countless gifts and memories for others.

Olga loved to travel with family to Mexico, Hawaii, and the East Coast.  She was a wonderful travel companion who brought joy and laughter on all the journeys.

In her final years, Olga was cared for with dignity and affection by her family in the United States and Mexico and by the staff of nurses, doctors, and therapists at Town & Country Senior Living Community in Santa Ana, CA.  In her final days, she was treated by the dedicated medical professionals at St. Joseph’s Hospital and Kindred Hospital.  She was always loved and cared for by those around her.

Olga is survived by 25 nieces and nephews, the Zarate family, and the many others who remember Olga’s love, affection, and great food. She left a legacy of love and warm memories with her family and friends, and she will not be forgotten.

The Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Thursday, June 29, 2023, at 10am PDT at Holy Family Cathedral in Orange, CA.  Olga will be laid to rest next to her mother and several of her siblings in Tijuana, Mexico.  In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in honor of Olga Gonzalez to the Sisters of the Company of Mary’s educational mission.  Please write checks to the “Sisters of the Company of Mary” and reference “Olga Gonzalez Legacy Fund.”  Please send donations to the Sisters’ Regional Offices at 16791 Main Street, Tustin, CA 92780.

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