Gloria Gonzalez overwhelmed by support

By KEVIN CHIRI

Publisher

LAPLACE – Gloria Gonzalez admits she can’t find the words to describe the outpouring of love since her husband, Capt. Octavio &#8220Ox” Gonzalez, was killed in the line of duty working for the St. John Sheriff’s Office.

It was on June 16, 2006 when Gonza-lez answered a call involving two suspects, and a St. John officer who had already been shot.

Chasing the suspects down, he was ambushed from behind and killed early in the morning.

He is survived by his wife Gloria, and two sons, Alexander, age 9, and Bryson, age 6.

On Monday at Belle Terre Country Club, yet another fundraiser was held for the Gonzalez family, marking what appears to be the end to a long line of events held in his behalf, not only to help the family financially, but also to remember the dedication of Gonzalez to his law enforcement work.

Gloria Gonzalez said the outpouring of love in her husband’s name cannot be described with simple words.

&#8220Unbelievable. No, that’s just not good enough,” she when asked her reaction to the many events which have been held. &#8220There really are not words that can adequately describe what people have done. All I can say is thanks, thanks, thanks.”

She admits that one of the first reactions a woman gets when her husband is killed, after the initial shock has passed is, &#8220his paycheck has stopped. How do I support our children?”

But fortunately in this case, she wants the people in the St. John community to know that money is no longer a problem for the family.

&#8220We have very generous federal and state checks we receive if an officer is killed in the line of duty,” she said. &#8220And the fundraisers have been endless. I got to the point of not even knowing who was giving us the money. There was just a check here and a check there. It’s been amazing.”

Gonzalez will also receive local benefits, and the children will have their college education paid for, so at least the financial end of the tragedy won’t be another burden for the family to carry.

Meanwhile, Gloria Gonzalez said her family is doing &#8220OK. It’s been three months, and Ox’s birthday is coming up Sept. 26, so that will be hard. But you can’t stop living. The children need a sense of normalcy, and actually they are the ones who help keep you going.”

She said that the day of the funeral was a day one of her sons had his final baseball game of the season.

&#8220He asked me, ‘Mom, aren’t we going to the game. It’s the last one.’ So I said, sure, and they changed the time of the game so we could go to the funeral, and then make the game,” she said. &#8220My boys make it a little easier since they move on. Children are so resilient. I mean, they still don’t understand, and want their dad back. But the kids have helped so much for me.”

She had worked one day a week as a social worker for the St. Tammany Parish School System, but is now on a leave of absence, and isn’t sure what her future will hold.

&#8220I know I have to just be home for now, and I’m not even living in my home yet. We’re staying with my sister. But we just take a day at a time, and I tell the kids to get used to the fact that I will cry every day. So they know that and we manage,” she added.

Besides the numerous events raising money for the family, there was also a large crew of workers who showed up at their house shortly after the funeral to do some major fix-up jobs at the house.

&#8220There has just been so much. But one thing I have seen in all this, and something I tell my boys, is that even though there is evil in the world, we have seen that there is so much more kindness,” she added. &#8220And I just want everyone to know how much we thank them for all they have done for us.”