Grace Gonzales

Grace Quirino Gonzales, a devoted Catholic, loving mother and grandmother, and lifelong servant to her community, passed away on January 25, 2026.

Grace was born on May 31, 1961, in Lubbock, Texas, to Edward and Mary Quirino. She spent her formative years in Michigan City, Indiana, where she graduated from Rogers High School in 1979. She pursued higher education at Purdue University and Indiana University Bloomington, where her studies broadened her perspective and fostered a lifelong affection for both institutions and their academic and athletic traditions.

In 1983, Grace returned to Lubbock to be near her family, a decision that shaped the remainder of her life and work. She began her career in healthcare in the emergency department at Methodist Hospital—now Covenant Hospital—serving patients with compassion and steadiness in moments of crisis. Her professional journey later included service with the United States Census Bureau and University Medical Center. In the final chapter of her career, Grace found her greatest purpose advocating for migrant healthcare reform, work that reflected her deep belief in human dignity and social justice.

Grace lived her Catholic faith through service. She was actively involved for many years with the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), holding numerous leadership roles and dedicating herself to civil rights and equal opportunity for underserved communities. One of her greatest passions within LULAC was raising scholarship funds to help Latino students—many of them first-generation college students—pursue higher education. She believed deeply in education as a pathway to empowerment and took great pride in helping strengthen and uplift the next generation of Latino youth. She also served on the board of the Lubbock Civic Center. For Grace, community involvement was not optional—it was a calling.

In the 1990s, Grace met the love of her life, Samuel Gonzales, who shared her passion for community involvement, advocacy, and activism. Together, they built a life grounded in service and shared purpose. Grace and Samuel were married in 2017 and remained devoted to one another until Samuel’s passing in 2025.

Grace was preceded in death by her husband, Samuel Gonzales, and her father, Edward Quirino.

She is survived by her mother, Mary Quirino; her brother, Will Quirino, and his wife, Josephine Quirino; a son Nicolas Garza; her three grandchildren, whom she lovingly called “her world”; and two nieces she cared for deeply.

Viewing and visitation will be held in The Chapel of Broadway Funeral Directors on Thursday, January 29, 2026, from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., with a Rosary starting at 6:00 pm. Funeral mass will be celebrated at 11:00 am Friday, January 30, 2026, at St. Elizabeth’s Catholic Church in Lubbock with Father Greg Dunn officiating. 

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made to the American Kidney Fund, in honor of Grace’s life and her journey with kidney disease and dialysis.

Grace Gonzales will be remembered for her steadfast faith, her devotion to family, and her lifelong commitment to justice, service, and compassion.