GUTIERREZ, Monica

West Valley View, Avondale, AZ October 25, 2011 Monica Gutierrez, 67, of Avondale died Oct. 21, 2011. Mrs. Gutierrez was born Sept. 14, 1944, in Glendale to Ysidro Jr. and Angelita. She attended Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church in Glendale and graduated from Peoria High School in 1962. She married and moved to San Jose, Calif., where she earned a bachelor's degree in elementary education in 1976, and a Master's degree from Cal State San Bernardino. She taught for 25 years in Southern California, and was the first bilingual teacher in the Val Verde Unified School District. After retiring, she continued tutoring and substituting until her illness would no longer permit her to. She was a member of St. James Catholic Church in Perris, Calif., where she taught Religious Education, R.C.I.A., was head of the Fellowship of Catholic Christian Women, and was a Eucharistic Minister. She is survived by her first husband, Pete C. Reynoso Jr.; one son, Pete G. Reynoso III of Perris, Calif.; two daughters, Alicia R. Curiel of Amarillo, Texas, and Angelica Lucia Flores of Moreno Valley, Calif.; four brothers, Ysidro, Ricardo, Carlos and John; three sisters, MaryLou Ortega, Angie Carrasco and Margie Castelamare; five grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. A rosary will be recited at 9:30 a.m. today at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church, 512 N. 93rd Ave. in Tolleson, with visitation to follow until 11 a.m. A mass will celebrated at 11 a.m. Burial will be private. Condolences can be sent to the family at www.thompsonfuneralchapel.com.