Gladys Contreras

Gladys Contreras passed away peacefully, at the age of 85, in Albuquerque, New Mexico on October 18, 2024. Gladys was born in Bogota, Colombia in South America. She made her way to the United States with her then husband, Edilberto Gonzalez– a former professional Soccer Player, and her two children. She joined her mother, Josefina Lopez, in Miami, Florida and her two other siblings; Jairo Contreras and Victoria Trujillo. She made the USA her home ever since. She lived in New York– in Jackson Heights and  Elmhurst, later moving to Belen, New Mexico and finally settling Albuquerque, New Mexico.

She had a love of music and enjoyed playing her guitar. The famous Pimentel’s made her a very special Care Bear Guitar which she cherished.  She was part of the St, Joseph on the Rio Grande Spanish choir for many years. She was also a Liturgical Minister, and Communion Minister in this church community.

She made a name for herself, as owner and hair-dresser of Julius Scissors. Gladys was featured with a haircut and technique she developed in a Hairdressing Magazine, and presented in a Paul Mitchell conference. She worked for Sprint where she made many lifelong friends. After 16 years of service,she retired from the Social Security Administration. Again here, her friendships were life long until her passing.  This tells of Gladys and the kind of person she was known as – their special “social butterfly” as people there called her. She received many awards in her customer service role, even from the  USA Social Security Administration Secretary.

Gladys was famous for her ‘Storytellers by Gladys. She would make and create a special hair design for each person, as well as blending the color of the clay to match people’s home schemes.

Her biggest love in life were her children, and her grandchildren, and family and numerous friends. She was always involved with her daughter and always a part of her grandchildren’s lives attending all school events, as well as football, soccer and baseball activities and games. She was their biggest fan, and all the team players knew her. She had many friends she felt were like family to her, as well. The Golden Girls was a group where she and others began to keep us engaged with each other's lives and keep up our Colombian cultural roots. She was very excited about becoming a Great-Grandmother.

She is survived by her two children, Mauricio Gonzalez and wife Jennifer Gonzalez; daughter, Gina Gonzalez-Young and husband Mark Young. She is survived by 9 grandchildren; Dr. Jarrid A. Young, and wife Amber Young; Joshua A. Young, Justin Gonzalez, Heather Gonzalez, Patrick Gonzalez, Dillon Gonzalez, Emma Gonzalez, Ethan Gonzalez, and Charles Gonzalez. Gladys also has a great grandchild coming in January 2025. She had nieces and nephews which she adored and was part of their lives as well;  Dr. Erik Xavier Contreras’ Dianne De Leon, and Daniel De Leon, and many other nieces and nephews. She also had close family friends that were like family– the Honorable Jessica Varn, Yvonne Enciso-Spaulding, who knew her as her second Mother, and others that called her MAMA.

A Celebration of Life will be held for Gladys Contreras’ at St. Joseph on the Rio Grande on Saturday, November 16, 2024, with Monsignor Lambert Luna officiating the service.

~Celebration of LIFE for GLADYS~

8:15 Family Visitations

8:45 Holy Rosary

9:15 Eulogy

10:00 Holy Mass

11:45- Burial at

12:00 Mt. Calvary Cemetery

1900 Edith Blvd. NE 87102

The Family invites you to enjoy some refreshments and food as you continue to share about the life of this amazing lady...

                                                            ~ GLADYS ~