Maria Amparo Gutierrez

Maria Amparo Gutierrez Mateus, age 86, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, November 15, 2023 in Manchester, CT.  Maria Amparo was born to Alfredo and Concepcíon (Mateus) Gutierrez in a small country home in Bajo Guamitos, Colombia.  She left her family home when she was young and was found by Hermanitas de la Anunciación in Bogotá in her teen years.  Maria Amparo was very fond of Blessed Madre Berenice, the foundress of the order. Her years there informed her life.  Her Catholic faith was a predominant feature throughout her life.  At the age of twenty-eight, she was given the opportunity to travel to the United States entering through New York and resided primarily in Stamford and Willimantic Connecticut. 

Maria Amparo was a diligent and curious learner.  Maria Amparo taught herself how to read, write, and learned basic arithmetic from any printed material found in her poor family home.  She continued her education and learned childhood development with the Hermanitas de la Anunciación.  This led to being employed as a private family governess in the United States.

Maria Amparo worked tirelessly on a variety of jobs.  She received technical training in electronics and worked at CBS Radio labs in High Ridge, CT where she was recognized with an award for solving a significant manufacturing problem.   Maria Amparo also was a dedicated factory worker for Arnold Foods Company in Greenwich, CT.  She often picked up secondary jobs as a housekeeper to help make ends meet.  Maria Amparo was an avid seamstress, often creating her own clothing for her family, an artisan in crochet, and had exceptional knitting skills.  Maria Amparo was known in the family for making the best empanadas of all different varieties.  Maria Amparo was a devoted single mother of three daughters. She spent much free time at Cove Beach with her family. In her later years, Maria Amparo’s faith transformed and became transparent for anyone who would visit, praying daily rosaries, reading the scriptures, and attending Mass as often as she could at Sagrado Corazon in Willimantic CT. 

Maria Amparo was the eldest of a total of twenty-one brothers and sisters and was preceded by her parents, seven siblings, and a grandson in death. Maria Amparo is survived by her three daughters, all of whom are University of Connecticut graduates, Capt. (sep.) Jennifer and Lt. Col (ret.) Dustin Evancho of South Carolina, Christina and Tim Ruth of Georgia, and Hendriana and Adam Nielsen of Connecticut; nine grandchildren Kathyrn, Anna, Isaac, Rachel, Veronica, Natalie, Joesph, Makeyla, and Carl; and the rest of her siblings residing in Connecticut (7), Oklahoma (3), Florida(2) and in Colombia (1).   

Flowers may be sent to the Holmes Watkins Funeral Home.  Please consider giving donations to the Monastery of Our Lady of Grace. Make checks payable to Dominican Nuns of North Guilford, 11 Race Hill Road, North Guilford, CT 06437 or online to dominicannuns.org/donate.  Online donations may also be made to Sagrado Corazon at catholicwindham.org. 

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