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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, In recognition of her lifetime of purposeful |
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endeavor, Sister Norma Gutierrez is being posthumously honored as |
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an Unsung Hero by the Westside Development Corporation at the |
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organization's 2015 Westside Honors Exitos en Nuestro Barrio Gala, |
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taking place in San Antonio on May 21; and |
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WHEREAS, Norma Gutierrez was born in Mercedes, one of 12 |
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children of migrant farm workers; she attended The University of |
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Texas--Pan American, and as a member of a campus ministry group, she |
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traveled to San Antonio to hear Mother Teresa speak in the early |
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1970s; it was this pivotal moment that led to her decision to join a |
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convent at the Missionary Catechists of Divine Providence in San |
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Antonio; and |
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WHEREAS, Taking her vows after eight years in the order, |
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Sister Gutierrez went on to earn her master's degree in theology |
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with a minor in philosophy from Our Lady of the Lake University; she |
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was first assigned to work with children and young adults in |
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California, Brownsville, and San Antonio, and she later served as |
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the youth director of the Diocese of Austin; and |
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WHEREAS, Inspired by the work of Dr. Elisabeth Kübler-Ross, a |
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psychiatrist who studied the nature of grief and dying, Sister |
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Gutierrez went on to dedicate herself to hospice care; she received |
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encouragement and support from renowned trauma surgeon Dr. James |
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"Red" Duke Jr. of Memorial Hermann Hospital, where she finished |
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part of her clinical pastoral education; and |
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WHEREAS, Through her comforting presence, this gracious |
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clergywoman strove to provide patients with peace and dignity as |
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they neared the end of their lives; she shared with them her belief |
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in the importance of bringing closure to their relationships with |
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loved ones, and at times, she made gowns to dress infants who had |
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died at birth, as a small gesture of compassion to parents |
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confronting terrible heartbreak; and |
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WHEREAS, Sister Gutierrez demonstrated the strength of her |
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convictions during her own courageous battle with cancer; when the |
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disease returned following a long remission, she chose to forgo |
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chemotherapy so that she could continue to fulfill her purpose in |
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the few weeks she had left, and she urged nurses to devote their |
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time to patients other than herself; she was surrounded by the love |
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of a large family, including nieces and nephews whom she treasured |
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deeply; and |
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WHEREAS, Expressing faith, hope, and love throughout her |
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remarkable journey on this earth, Sister Norma Gutierrez made a |
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meaningful difference in the lives of those under her care, and she |
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is truly deserving of this prestigious honor; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas |
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Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of Sister Norma |
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Gutierrez on the occasion of her posthumous recognition by the |
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Westside Development Corporation; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for the family of Sister Gutierrez as an expression of high |
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regard by the Texas House of Representatives. |