Obituary of Gerardo Gonzalez

Funeral Mass for Gerardo Gonzalez, 101, of Columbia will be held at 11:00 a.m. Monday, February 2, 2015 at Saint Joseph Catholic Church with Father Matthew Gray officiating. Interment will follow in Greenlawn Memorial Park. The family will receive friends from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. on Sunday, February 1, 2015 at Thompson Funeral Home at Greenlawn Memorial Park, Rosary will be at 6:00 p.m. Jason Carrero, Joseph Carrero, Milton Caughman, Kyle Caughman, John Rotureau, and Jacob "Jake" Rotureau will serve as pallbearers. Mr. Gonzalez passed away on Thursday, January 29, 2015. He was born in Ponce, Puerto Rico on December 26, 1913 to the late Gerardo Gonzalez (Pagan) and Carmen Gonzalez (Ruiz Blanco). Mr. Gonzalez arrived in New York from Puerto Rico in 1939. From 1943 to 1946 he served his country proudly during World War II in the United States Army 255th Infantry Regiment of the 63rd US Infantry Division "Blood and Fire". He retired from the Hotel Roosevelt in New York City and lived in the Bronx, New York until he moved to Columbia, SC in 1983. He had a contagious sense of humor and a willingness to help others. He would joke about the fact that he was a man of many names. In addition to his given name, he was known as Nen by friends and family, Jerry by coworkers, Gerard by neighbors, Papi by family and friends, and Wito by grandchildren and friends. Regardless of the name he was called, he always remained the same caring, jovial, and a loving person. He was predeceased by his beloved wife, Luz Palmira Gonzalez; his brothers, Ramon E. Gonzalez, Angel Gonzalez, and Elpidio Gonzalez; sisters, Victoria Gonzalez Pagan, Palmira Gonzalez, Sulpicia Vera, and Luz Maria Rivera. Surviving are his daughter and son-in-law, Maria and James Carrero of Columbia, SC; his grandson Jason Carrero of Lexington, SC; his grandson and granddaughter-in-law Joseph and Megan Carrero and great-grandson William Joseph Carrero of Lexington, SC; his sister Haydee Gonzalez of Bronx, New York; numerous nieces and nephews of New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Georgia, Texas, Florida and Puerto Rico; and many friends who loved him and his kind heart. Memorials may be made to Saint Joseph Catholic School Annual Fund, 3700 Devine Street, Columbia, SC 29205 or to Outreach Prison Ministries of Our Lady of the Hills Parish c/o Sister Christina Murphy, SND, 120 Marydale Lane, Columbia, SC 29210, or to a charity of one's choice. The family would like to express their gratitude to all the nurses and all the staff of William Jennings Bryan Dorn VA Medical Center 2 West for their genuine care and kindness. May God always bless you and the work you do caring for our Veterans. Family and friends may share condolences or memories at www.thompsonsfuneral.com