Obituary

Pauline Dorathy Gonzalez

1926 - 2023

Pauline Dorathy Gonzalez passed away after declining health on March 18, 2023, just seven weeks shy of her 97 ^th birthday.  Born in NY, New York on May 7, 1926, Pauline was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 55 years and childhood sweetheart, Vincent, in May of 2000.  Together they raised three children; Steven V. of Dix Hills, NY, Jeffrey M. of Towanda, PA, and Wayne H. of Gastonia, NC.

She is survived by Steven, his spouse Abby, and their two children: son Lee and his spouse Sarah and their 3 children: Drew, Emily and James, and son Eric, his spouse Samantha, and their children Julia, Isabel and Hannah.  She is also survived by Jeffrey and his spouse Diane and their three children: daughter Lauren, her spouse Vincent and their children Hudson and Hayden, their daughter Lindsay and her spouse Josh, and son Jared.  She is also survived by Wayne, his spouse Jaclyn and their three children: daughter Erica and her spouse William and their children Adelyn, Claire and Ella, daughter Melissa and her sons Mateus and Evan and daughters Bianca and Blake and son Jason and his spouse Ashley and their two sons Nicolas and Samuel.

She was proceeded in death by her sister Anne, husband Alec, and their son Harvey, and her sister Ruth, husband Abe and their son Ira.  Their respective surviving children, nieces Wendy and Cheryl are considered the daughters she never had.

Pauline was the daughter of Abraham Sheiman and the former Etti Cohen, both immigrants from eastern Europe at the beginning of the last century.  During WWII Pauline was employed as a bookkeeper for a medium sized bakery in NYC.  After the war she married 1 ^st Lt. Vincent Gonzalez, who then worked for RCA, while he obtained his BS in mechanical engineering from NYU, and a reservist in the emerging U.S. Air Force achieving the rank of Lt Col.  They remained in the Bronx until 1955 when they moved to their first home in Massapequa with their 9-year-old son Steven, and 1 year old son Jeffrey.  Their third son, Wayne was born in 1958.

Pauline and Vincent became snowbirds in 1987, purchasing their second home in Delray Beach, Fl.  In 1995, they sold the Massapequa home, becoming full-time Florida residents.  Pauline stayed in Florida after Vincent's untimely death in 2000 until 2016.  During that time, she lived approximately half the year with Wayne and Jaclyn in Gastonia.  In 2016 Pauline moved to a senior living apartment in Charlotte, NC.  With the outbreak of Covid, Pauline moved in with Wayne and Jaclyn, where she remained until her recent illness.

Pauline will be remembered as a loving mother, one where her children's friends came to visit long after her children had moved away, and a great sister, aunt, daughter-in-law, mentor and especially adoring grandmother to her 8 grandchildren, and 17 and counting great-grandchildren.  She also loved her nieces, and her grand-nephews and grand-nieces.

Upon her death it was noted that Pauline was on dialysis for 14 years, which if not a record for someone of her age, it certainly is a testament to her strength and "moxie".  She was known as smart, witty, poetic, kind and caring, often using all these attributes while offering comfort and counsel.

In lieu of flowers the family asks that donations be directed towards the Levine & Dickson Hospice House at Aldersgate - 1825 Eastway Dr., Charlotte, NC  28215, or the charity of their choice.

Those of you that are unable to attend the service but would like to view it online, please click on the link below on 3/24/2023 @ 12:00 p.m.

www.thegardens.com