On the Fourth of July in 1952, Josephine E. Gutierrez settled into her new home in Pacific Palisades with her husband, Tito, and their four young children. Fifty-two years later, to the day, this loving mother and founding parishioner of Corpus Christi Church passed away at her home following a long illness. She was 80 years old. Josephine was born in Los Angeles on March 19, 1924. She grew up loving literature, music and art, all of which nurtured her deep faith in God, love of family, and joyful wonder at all living things. Raised in L.A., she graduated from Bishop Conaty High School in 1942. Soon thereafter, Josephine met and fell in love with her future husband, Tito A. Gutierrez, also from Los Angeles. After returning from Europe, where he was a fighter pilot in World War II, Tito married Josephine on July 21, 1945. The young family resided in Santa Monica before moving into their final home in the Huntington Palisades, where together they raised their 10 children. Throughout her life Josephine’s strength stemmed from her unyielding faith in God and her deep love of family. Following the untimely death of her husband, her tremendous faith inspired her to seek understanding of God’s role in her life. For the next 35 years her commitment and capacity for forgiveness and unconditional love enabled her to lead a quiet life that exemplified compassion, patience and tolerance. Committed to building community through her 10 children, Josephine nurtured independence in each of them and in herself; she was a strong believer in lifelong learning. An avid reader and film enthusiast, Josephine was a mental traveler who enjoyed learning about different cultures and customs in places around the world. Her love of history deepened her understanding of all humanity, its challenges and potential. Always hopeful, Josephine developed a perseverance characterized by kindness and openness to others. As a bilingual mother in the Corpus Christi community, she interpreted for Spanish-speaking childcare providers during the 1950s and ’60s. In the 1980s, as part of the Los Angeles Unified School District’s Capacity Adjustment Program, Josephine worked as an instructional aide at Palisades Elementary School helping Spanish-speaking students. She also helped students learn English in special summer school classes at Dayton Heights Elementary School in Hollywood. In the late 1980s and early ’90s, she furthered her commitment to education through volunteer work teaching literacy skills to the elderly through the Center for Healthy Aging in Santa Monica. Besides her involvement in education, Josephine held brief employment at local businesses. At the Palisadian-Post in the 1960s, she was an administrative clerk assisting in the publication of the local paper. Then, in the 1970s, at a Palisades answering service, her convivial spirit and love for conversation helped her succeed as a telephone operator for members throughout the community. Always enthusiastic about spreading kindness through her smile, laughter and sense of humor, Josephine thrived on togetherness with family and friends. She lived her life with grace and dignity, respecting diversity and uniqueness in others. Surrounded by her loving family, Josephine passed peacefully into eternal independence and will be missed by all who knew her. Predeceased by her husband in 1969, Josephine is survived by her children, Barbara Gutierrez of Pacific Palisades, Thomas Gutierrez of Redondo Beach, Michael Gutierrez of Los Angeles, Monica McClelland (husband William) of Pacific Palisades, John Gutierrez (wife Maureen) of Arroyo Grande, Christine Gutierrez (husband Randy) of Santa Monica, Helena ‘Leni’ Moore (husband Michael) of Mill Valley, Mary Gutierrez Mitchell of Golden, Colorado, James Gutierrez (wife Deborah) of Boise, Idaho, and Teresa Cahalan (husband John) of Los Gatos. Josephine is also survived by her 12 grandchildren: Chad, Shaun, John Paul, Brent, Timothy, Matthew, Kelly, Caitlin, Brianna, Kate, Christopher and Kevin; and her brother Gus Ramirez of Glendale and sister Marguerite Ramirez of Los Angeles. The Rosary was held on July 8, and the Funeral Mass on July 9 at Corpus Christi Church. Josephine was interned alongside her beloved husband on July 10 in a private ceremony at Holy Cross Cemetery in Culver City. Donations can be made in her memory memory to the Center for Healthy Aging, 2125 Arizona Ave., Santa Monica, CA 90404 (Attn. Don Cohen).
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