Death Notice of our DEACON5 brother, Deacon Victor Gonzalez

With faith in the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, we inform you of the death of Deacon Victor Manuel Pedro Gonzalez Saenz, who entered eternal life on Saturday, September 27, 2025. He was 59 years old.

Victor was born on October 10, 1965, in Mexico City, the third of seven children of Rosa Gonzalez Saenz and Luis Gonzalez   Victor and his siblings lived in various suburbs around Mexico City until they began migrating over to Los Angeles when Victor was 18. Victor was not initially interested in joining the rest of his family in the United States. He had earned high marks in school and was set to enroll in a collegiate program in Mexico City. After much cajoling, he was enticed to come visit his family for a few days, which turned into a few weeks, which turned into the full, rich, deep-rooted life he had in Los Angeles thereafter.

He enrolled in Evans Adult School where he made lifelong friends, and met his best friend, and the love of his life, Laura Cervantes. They married in 1988 and had five children, Victor, Andrea, Matthew, Ashley, and Jonathan, and endless ‘adopted’ children who colored their lives from their elementary school age through adulthood with joy, love, and warmth.

Victor taught high school math for 32 years at public schools in Los Angeles. While working full-time to support a household of seven, Victor also earned his master’s degree at California State University Northridge. Victor retired in June 2025 and spent the last few months enjoying life in Burbank with his children and adored grandchildren, Isla and Theodore. He and Laura had also begun planting new roots in Ensenada, Mexico, to enjoy a well-earned retirement full of relaxing by the beach.

Victor had always loved and been a part of Saint Robert Bellarmine Parish, supporting many ministries and parish traditions for decades. From a young age, he felt a greater calling towards the church but remained dedicated to his work and young children at the time. Eventually, he fulfilled his dream with his family’s blessing by joining the diaconate program in 2015, making wonderful friends and creating an extended family among his class. His focus and calling were to minister to the bereaved and infirm, and he had a special affinity for supporting Catholic youth.

Victor’s reputation as a warm, funny, supportive, deeply loving and dedicated father, husband, grandfather, friend, brother and son preceded him in life and honors him in his early and unexpected passing. His life was crafted for his family’s betterment, and he was never happier than when he was in their presence–whether at an impromptu gathering, or a meticulously planned holiday.

Victor was preceded in death by his late brother, Luis, his mother, Rosa, his sister-in-law, Ana Lopez, his sister-in-law, Theresa Ramos, his brother-in-law, Jose Serje, and his mother-in-law, Laura Mercado.

He is survived by his beloved wife Laura, his father Luis, his children, Victor, Andrea, Matthew, Ashley, and Jonathan, his sons-in-law, Christopher and Alejandro, his siblings, Rosa, Alma, Abraham, Rafael, and Oscar, and his numerous and beloved other family members.

Victor’s loss has been deeply felt by his family and community, and he is already, and will continue to be, sorely missed by those who knew and loved him.