SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 815
WHEREAS, Sister Norma Gutierrez is being recognized
posthumously as an Unsung Hero by the Westside Development
Corporation at its 2015 Westside Honors Exitos en Nuestro Barrio
Gala, taking place in San Antonio on May 21; and
WHEREAS, Born in Mercedes in 1955, Sister Gutierrez was a
student at The University of Texas--Pan American when she heard
Mother Teresa speak during a trip to the Alamo City; she was moved
to devote herself to the religious life, and in 1979, she took her
vows in San Antonio as a sister of the Missionary Catechists of
Divine Providence; later, she completed her master's degree in
theology with a minor in philosophy at Our Lady of the Lake
University, the institution founded by her order; and
WHEREAS, Sister Gutierrez served as director of a youth
ministry in Fresno, California, before returning to San Antonio
to work at Saint Peter-Saint Joseph Children's Home;
subsequently, she directed a youth ministry in Austin and served
in a youth ministry in Washington, D.C.; and
WHEREAS, In the early 1990s, Sister Gutierrez took a
sabbatical in New Hampshire to reflect on her spiritual path; she
had the opportunity to learn from noted psychiatrist Elisabeth
Kübler-Ross, the author of On Death and Dying, and the experience
inspired her to become a hospital chaplain in order to help
people at the end of their lives or in medical crisis; after
serving in California, Maryland, and New Mexico, she returned to
Texas and counseled patients in the Houston area, most recently
at St. Luke's The Woodlands Hospital; and
WHEREAS, Sister Gutierrez had been successfully treated
for renal cancer in 1997, but in October 2014, the disease was
found to have recurred and metastasized; rather than undergo
chemotherapy, she chose to dedicate her remaining time to her
important work; she had such great concern for others that when
nurses stopped in to care for her, she urged them to move on to
those who might need them more; she passed away in San Antonio on
December 23, 2014, at the age of 59; and
WHEREAS, A woman of deep altruism, Sister Norma Gutierrez
expressed her faith by offering solace and hope, bringing light
to people in their darkest hours, and her selflessness is an
enduring source of inspiration to all; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 84th
Legislature, hereby pay tribute to the life of Sister Norma
Gutierrez on the occasion of her posthumous recognition as an
Unsung Hero by the Westside Development Corporation; and, be
it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this Resolution be
prepared for the family of Sister Gutierrez as an expression of
high regard from the Texas Senate.
Menéndez
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President of the Senate
I hereby certify that the
above Resolution was adopted by
the Senate on May 14, 2015.
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Secretary of the Senate
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Member, Texas Senate