Beatrice Theresa Gonzalez Aleman left behind all pain of mortal life on February 5, 2011, at Metropolitan Methodist Hospital in San Antonio, TX, surrounded by her husband and her loving family. She left this world to join our Lord and take the place reserved by Him with the communion of saints after a long and incredibly brave battle with cancer. In life, she was a respected educator, trusted friend, beloved daughter, admired sister, cherished wife, honored mother, and adored grandmother. Bea, as her family and friends knew her, was born in 1943, the oldest of six children to Jose G. and Amelia D. Gonzalez. She and her family moved to a small house on St. Francis Street on San Antonio's South Side in 1955. She and her two brothers and three sisters attended St. Philip of Jesus School. On her first day of 7th grade, she met a young man, Joseph Lawrence Aleman, whom she befriended, fell in love with, and ultimately married 14 years later at St. Philip Church. The two raised four children together during a love-filled marriage that lasted 41 years until her passing. Beatrice graduated from Incarnate Word High School in 1961 and earned her Bachelor's Degree from Incarnate Word College in 1965. She earned two Master's Degrees in Education and Administration. Her pursuit of a PhD ended due to a desire to focus on her growing family. In 1979 Bea, Lawrence, and family moved to South Bend, Indiana while Lawrence pursued his MBA at the University of Notre Dame. The experience at Notre Dame was transformative for the entire family. They befriended a diverse community which deepened their Catholic faith. Bea and Lawrence encountered the kindness of many people of God who welcomed them and shared friendship and love. Bea possessed a passion for education and a strong belief in its benefits. She dedicated her life to educating others. During a four decade long professional career as a teacher and principal, she oversaw the education of thousands of children in Catholic and public schools in San Antonio, Houston, and South Bend, IN. Every act of instruction was an act of love and respect. Bea worked tirelessly so that her students might reach their full potential. Another life's passion was her faith in God and commitment to the Church. She was actively involved in each of her home parishes throughout her life. Bea taught religious education, led marriage encounters, helped at fundraisers and carnivals. She also led a children's choir for many years in which all four of her children sang. Bea's two great passions of faith and education were brought together to greatest effect in her family life. She urged her children to pursue their own learning and worked and sacrificed together with her husband to put them through Catholic high schools and through the country's finest institutions of higher learning including Rice University, Harvard University, the University of Notre Dame, and Yale University. Bea was truly special, in that she made the world a better place through her efforts. She will be missed. Her legacy survives in the countless children she taught, the teachers she led, and the children and grandchildren who will try to live up to her example. She taught with patience, led through action, and loved unconditionally. She was preceded in death by her mother and father, Jose and Amelia Gonzalez; her mother and father-in-law, Alfonso and Adelaide Aleman; her daughter, Ariel; and a grandson, Jesus Baker Anderson. She is survived by her loving husband, Lawrence, her 4 children and 11 grandchildren: Joseph Lawrence Aleman, Jr., his wife Nancy and their children Sophia, Paulina, Cristina and Alexander of Fort Worth, TX; Thomas Aleman, his wife Danielle and their children, Andres, Paloma and Louisa Mae of Houston, TX; Theresa Aleman Anderson, her husband Adam Anderson and their children, Angelina, Isabella, and Olivia of Houston, TX; her son Stephen Aleman, his wife Jennifer and their son Jesse of Nashville, TN. She is also survived by her brothers Jose G., Jr., and Richard, and her sisters Amelia, Annie, and Rosie as well as dozens of nieces and nephews whom she loved dearly. Visitation will begin on Tuesday, February 8, at 6:00 PM with the Rosary to be recited at 7:00 PM at St. Philip of Jesus Catholic Church. Funeral Mass will be offered on Wednesday, February 9, at 12:00 PM at St. Philip of Jesus Catholic Church. Interment will follow at San Fernando Archdiocesan Cemetery No. 2. Condolences may be sent to the Aleman family at www.theangelusfuneralhome.com. Arrangements by:
The Angelus Funeral Home
1119 N. St. Mary's Street
San Antonio, Texas 78215

Published in Houston Chronicle on February 7, 2011