Emilia "Belia" Gonzalez de Guillen

On Friday, October 7, 2022, Emilia (Belia) Guillen de Gonzalez of East Chicago, IN, loving sister, aunt, wife, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother, passed away at age 84.

Emilia (Belia) Guillen was born and raised in Tala, Jalisco, Mexico, where she met her husband, John, at the local mercado, later married, and came to East Chicago, IN, to start her family.  Emilia was a devoted Catholic, travel enthusiast, superb fiber artist - seamstress, knitter, embroiderer, and an excellent homemaker.  Whether she was ending a call with friends, traveling to or from Mexico to see her brothers and sisters, or saying goodbye as you left her home, she always gave  you a bendicion – for health, safety, academics, and work.  Her gift to the world came through the skills honed with her hands.  She enhanced store-bought clothing and crafted numerous pieces by hand for her family, friends, and clients to wear on their most important days.  Emilia always prepared delicious meals that could silence a room because everyone was too busy eating to speak until her husband, John, broke out the dominoes.  Finally, there are many conversations about the official recipe for grandma’s special rice.  As it turns out,, she catered her rice to each family member’s distinct tastes – tiny, cut onions, lots of peas and carrots, extra spicy with homemade salsa, etc.

She is survived by her Daughter, Iris Gil, and Son, Octavio (Michele) Gonzalez; 4 grandchildren: Jacob (Alicia) Campbell, Julie Gil, Alexander Gonzalez, Jessica (Nick) Fink; great granddaughter, Eleanor Fink, and soon-to-be great grandson, Barrett Campbell; numerous nieces and nephews.  Preceded in death by her mother, Maria Dolores Rico de Guillen; father Benjamin Guillen Salazar, loving husband, John R. Gonzalez; and Son, John Gonzalez.

A mass of Christian burial will be held, Friday, October 14, 2022, at 10:30 AM at St. Mary Church, corner of Indianapolis Blvd. and 144th Street, East Chicago, IN with Rev. Nestor Varon officiating.  Burial to follow at Ridgelawn Cemetery, Gary, IN.  Visitation at the FIFE FUNERAL HOME, 4201 Indianapolis Blvd., East Chicago, IN will be from 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM on Thursday, October 13, 2022, and from 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM at the Funeral Home on Friday morning.  She will be dearly missed by all who knew her.  To share an online condolence, logon to www.fifefuneralhome.com

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