Diego Gonzalez

Diego Gonzalez, 61, of Middletown, CT, husband of Lisa Gonzalez, passed away unexpectedly, surrounded by his loving family on Wednesday, May 19, 2021 at the Hospital of Central CT in New Britain.  Born in Matanzas, Cuba he was a graduate of New Britain High School and Porter & Chester Institute.  Diego was employed at Rich’s, where he was an ACE Certified Master Mechanical Engineer.

He is survived by his Jr. High School sweetheart, Lisa Gonzalez and their six greatest gifts; son Jason Gonzalez and wife Sarah, daughter Shannon Marshall and husband Ross, and grandsons Bryce and Blake Gonzalez who were his pride and joy.  He is also survived by his loving mother, Estrella Gonzalez; sisters Sonya Hanson and Rose DiVirgilio and her husband Rich; his mother-in-law and father-in-law, Sherry and Ray Bannon and his nieces and nephews; Jonathan Hanson, Rich and Olivia DiVirgilio, Lisa and Jon Arnold and Kaylei and Tyler Krejci.  He was predeceased by his father, Sergio Gonzalez.

Diego was known for always putting everyone before himself, going out of his way to do for all with a smile and never expecting anything in return.  One of his greatest joys in life was being a grandpa “Papa Diego”, riding his grandsons around the shop in skid steers and going to NASCAR races with his close friend, Scott Macintosh. He loved his job and considered his boss and her son family and all his customers his close friends. Diego’s loss is heartbreaking and a shock, and we don’t know how we will go on without him, but we will find strength in what was most important to him, our family.  Not a day will ever go by where we won’t be thinking of you, missing you and loving you, but will have solace in knowing we will see you again.  You will be our humble hero forever.

Funeral services have been changed to help accommodate an expected large attendance.  Friends and relatives are asked to go directly to St. Paul Church in Kensington on Tuesday for a Mass of Christian Burial to be held on at 11:30 AM.   No services will be held at the funeral home on Tuesday.  Calling hours will continue to be held on Monday from 5-7 PM at Erickson-Hansen Funeral Home.  Entombment will be in St. Mary Cemetery following the Mass.