Obituary of Isabel Tafoya

On Friday, December 18, 2020 Isabel Gutierrez Tafoya of Austin, Texas relocated to Heaven.  Isabel was preceded in death by her parents, Pedro and Juanita Gutierrez and her siblings, Maria Gutierrez Lopez, Calixtro Gutierrez, Joe Angel Gutierrez, and Toby Gutierrez.

Not all Angels have wings, white dresses, and glass slippers.  Some Angels come to us in the form of a Mother.  Our Mother’s greatest treasure was her family and all she wanted to do was care for us.  She showed her love with home cooked meals, babysitting her grandkids, and giving her very last dime to anyone in need.   She lived her life for her family.  She had no wants other than time with her family and to provide for them.  She was the best Wife, Mom, and best friend anyone could ever have.  She showed us the true meaning of love, loyalty, and honesty.  She truly loved selflessly and cared with all her heart and soul.  She made sure that her family knew God.  She made sure we got baptized and went to CCD to learn the Word of God.  She wanted us to be independent and experience as much as we could. 

She loved her husband of 54 years, Marcelo H. Tafoya and was grateful for him being the constant in our lives and a provider to us, so she could care for her kids.  She also did her best to keep in touch with all our cousins and family.  She especially looked forward to Sunday phone calls from our cousin Carol Lazalde.  Later in life, she took cake decorating classes and became a Cake Decorator at HEB.  Everywhere she went she made friends from HEB to Dialysis and made them feel special any chance she got.  She was grateful and appreciated all her co-workers, doctors, and nurses that cared for her.   It will never be enough time spent.  God gave us extra time with her when she decided to go to dialysis to be around longer for her grandkids. We took every bit of that time to show her and make sure she knew we loved her back. It was finally our turn to show her gratitude.  

Isabel is survived by her loving husband, Marcelo; her children Guadalupe Michelle Tafoya-Salazar and her husband, Joseph, Melissa Tafoya-Cortez and her husband, Henry, Miranda Tafoya-Arrington and her husband, Alex, and Marcelo Anthony Tafoya, Sr.; grandchildren, Pete Michael Alvarado and his wife, Andrea, Matthew Joseph Salazar, Jazerae Salazar, Joe Ramirez, Marcelo A. Tafoya, Jr., and Mikayla Tafoya; great grandchildren, Melody Alvarado, Malia Alvarado, and Michael Alvarado; her brother Luis Gutierrez and his wife, Alicia, and numerous nieces, nephews, other loving family and friends.

She is gone too soon, but her memories and legacy will live on in the beautiful family she and Marcelo H. Tafoya created.  She loved all her family deeply from Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, and across the nation. 

In lieu of flowers the family request donations be made directly to Mission Funeral Home.  In advance, the family is very grateful for you support and love through their difficult loss.

Private services will be held from 9:00-11:30 a.m. with Recitation of Holy Rosary beginning at 11:30 a.m. at Mission Funeral Home - South Side, 6204 S. First St., Austin, Texas.  Private Burial will follow.

Rosary will be live-streamed to allow those unable to attend to participate.  Follow link to Facebook Live Mission - South Side

Due to the Coronavirus /  COVID-19 Restrictions from the City of Austin,

capacity levels are restricted at funeral homes, churches, and cemeteries.

Each person entering the funeral home, church, and cemetery will be required to wear a mask

and to practice social distancing of 6 feet or more.   If you are ill or are concerned about the virus,

it is recommended that you not attend services. 

The family is so grateful to everyone for their understanding, love, and support

during this very difficult time.