Rachel G. Mendez

Rachel G. Mendez, 87, formerly of Wood River, Nebraska, died Sunday, July 12, 2020, at the CHI Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney. Funeral services will be 10:30 AM, Friday, July 17, 2020 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Wood River with Father Jorge Canela officiating. Burial will follow in Westlawn Memorial Park Cemetery in Grand Island. Visitation will be at St. Mary’s Catholic Church from 5 pm to 7 PM with family and friends speaking in remembrance of Rachel at 6:30 pm, on Thursday, July 16, 2020 with the Rosary following at 7 PM. Due to Covid-19 concerns, attendees will be required to wear a mask and asked to maintain social distancing. Memorials are suggested to Concrete Cares of Nebraska and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.



Rachel was born on August 17, 1932, in Grand Island, Nebraska, to Francisco Guerrero and Ernestina Cantu. She grew up in Grand Island and received her education through the 8th grade at Stolley Park Elementary.



She met the love of her life, Vincent M. Mendez, in the potato fields where she was a potato picker and he was a potato loader. They married on August 17, 1949, in Grand Island and lived together there and various other towns before settling down in Wood River. Over the years, she worked hard to help support her family in the potato and beet fields, in an onion plant, at the Cornhusker Army Ammunition Plant during the Vietnam War, and at the Good Samaritan Society in Wood River before she retired. She attended church at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Wood River, and she enjoyed cooking for her family, playing games with her neighbors, gardening and embroidery. In her younger days, she liked to bowl, play softball and dance.



She is survived by her husband, Vincent M. Mendez, her sons Vincent Mendez Jr. and Robert Mendez, and her daughter Olivia Molina. She is survived by eight grandchildren and 20 great-grandchildren.



She was preceded in death by her parents Francisco Guerrero and Ernestina Cantu, her brothers John and Marion Guerrero, her sisters Gabina Mendez, Flora Roman and Frances Salinas, her granddaughter Serita Gamez and her great granddaughter Lauryn Poff.