Maria Petra Vasquez

Maria Petra Vasquez June 29, 1929 - September 19, 2021 Maria Petra, age 92, was born on June 29, 1929, in Aqualeguas, Nuevo Leon, Mexico to Maria Casso and Refugio Gonzalez. Growing up in Mexico with 8 siblings, there was always work to do at their family ranch Carriza Legos, 25 miles from their family home. Most don’t know that she was a twin because unfortunately Paula passed away in 1934. At 18, Petra met the love of her life Jose while he was visiting his family in Agualeguas. They were head of heels for each other and married on February 19, 1949, where she moved to Detroit, Michigan to start a family. They only had 3 children, Maria Guadalupe, Jose Refugio (Joni) and Sylvia (Stuart) MacGregor but she always had extra children staying with her for days, weeks, to months at a time. She loved all her nieces and nephews as if they were her own and they enjoyed spending just as much time with their Tia Petra and Tio Jose. In 1964, they moved to Garden City, Michigan were they continuing raising their family. Since they were no longer in Detroit and having family down the street, Petra loved hosting family barbecues and get togethers with her extended family for holidays, birthdays or just because. In 1976, she started a new chapter in life as “Ita”. She lived for her 7 grandchildren, Raquel (Duane) Fritz, Rosanna Swalley, Jason (Sabrina) Vasquez, Eric Vasquez, Caila (Michael) MacGregor, Stuart Michael MacGregor, and Nathan Vasquez. In 1999, she was lucky to receive the title of great grandmother (still Ita) to 5 great grandchildren, Rayna Fritz, Ty Fritz, Roman Vasquez, Natalie Basista and DeMarcos Vasquez.She was an amazing abuelita!! Over her 92 years, she enjoyed cooking daily, making empanadas, baking cookies, being outdoors gardening, tending to her rose bushes and 20 plants throughout the house, playing Dominos with the kids, crocheting, sewing, going to church and watching her Telenovelas. Her greatest treasure in life was her family!! Her love for them was so strong!! She would just light up every time one of us entered the room. She just wanted to take care of us even till the end. Our love for her kept her young at 92 and we were so fortunate to have her in our lives. Our LOVE for you will never cease, you will always be our missing piece! We will forever miss her voice saying “Mijo or Mija”! She was preceded in death by Jose Vasquez, Sylvia MacGregor, and all her brothers and sisters. She was the last living sibling of the Gonzalez Nine and the last surviving wife of the Vazquez Brothers. When tomorrow starts without me, please try to understand, that an angel came and called my name, and took me by the hand; the angel said my place was ready, in Heaven far above, and that I’d have to leave behind all those I dearly love. But when I walked through Heaven’s Gates. I felt so much at home, for God looked down, smiled at me, and told me “Welcome Home.” So, when tomorrow starts without me, don’t think we are far apart, for every time you think of me, I am right there in your heart! Donations can be made in her honor to the Alzheimer’s Association.