Gilbert Anthony Contreras

It is with immense sorrow and heavy hearts that we announce the passing of our beloved Gilbert (Gil) Anthony Contreras - devoted husband, father, brother, and son. Gilbert has joined his Heavenly Father on December 9th, 2025 and is reunited with the family members who left before him.

Gil was born November 30, 1967 and spent a majority of life in Tucson, Arizona. He initially grew up on the east side while later helping his parents, Ed and Helen, lay the foundation of a home in the northern outskirts of Tucson later established to be the Town of Oro Valley. In his teen years, Gil enjoyed roaming the untapped desert with friends and family as he made his way through L.W. Cross Middle School and Canyon Del Oro High School (his children would later also attend). After graduating from CDO in 1985, Gil took a couple years off to work full-time before attending the University of Arizona which is where he would meet the love of his life, Catherine Irene Saragosa.

Gil and Catherine were married on March 21, 1992 in Tucson. After a couple years of blissful marriage, they would be on the move to Phoenix, AZ. Their first child, Edward Louis Contreras (III), was born in Phoenix in February of 1996, three and a half years later, their second child Alexandra Irene Contreras, was born in August of 1999 in Las Vegas, NV. Fast forward another three and a half years, and their third child Nicolas Anthony Contreras, would be born in March of 2003 in Tucson, AZ. The value of family was of utmost importance shown by the family names they gave to each of their children; Edward (named after Gil’s dad); Alexandra (middle name is Catherine’s mom); Nicolas (middle name is Gil’s and also Gil’s mom’s younger brother).

Gil had a very strong work ethic. One of Gil’s first jobs was at Village Market on Oracle Road as a bag boy and he continued in retail management for the rest of his career; Reay’s Ranch Market, Wild Oats, and Bed Bath & Beyond. He had the unique opportunity to help establish a new Wild Oats store in Summerlin, Nevada from the ground up, overseeing the store build through its grand opening and then some until he moved the family back to Arizona.

Gil was a man of many passions starting with his green thumb in and out of the house. A love of cooking was fostered by time spent in the kitchen with his mother, Helen. He was no stranger to a grill, stove and especially a smoker wearing his chef’s apron. With the outdoors being his element, Gil and Cathy enjoyed spending a night or two in a tent and/or camper in the woods. While he enjoyed each of these passions, throughout his life, none compares to his love for music. More often than not, Gil sang along to songs while doing everything he enjoyed. He had no problem letting everyone know how well he knew each song! His playlists reached every audience and were perfect for any occasion. Most often, these occasions found him surrounded by his loved ones and were usually centered on annual trips to Laughlin, San Diego, and Nutrioso. Gil lived his life to the fullest!

Gilbert is survived by his loving wife of thirty-three years Catherine; their three children, Edward, Alexandra, and Nicolas; his brothers Michael, Albert and wife Rosemary. In addition, his close cousins Bill Romero, David Moreno, along with many other cousins with whom he shared a strong bond, uncles, aunts, and his numerous nieces and nephews all of which will cherish the memories made with Gilbert aka Gil aka Uncle Gibby. He is predeceased by his mother Helen (August 25, 2019), his father Edward Jr (October 7, 2022), and sister Anna Falk (December 4, 2022).

Services will be held on Wednesday, December 17th at 10:00AM at St. Philip’s in the Hills Episcopal Church located at 4440 N. Campbell Avenue with a reception to follow at a separate location.