Obituary for Pedro Miguel Contreras
Pedro Miguel Contreras passed away on December 4, 2021, in Sugar Land, Texas surrounded by his adoring wife of 53 years, children, and grandchildren. He was born in Bogotá, Colombia on December 17, 1939.
He was a hard worker from an early age—something that came out of necessity—since his father was estranged, and his mother, Trinidad Contreras, passed away when he was 12. He started working full-time in Bogotá before finishing junior high, primarily working as a mechanic who specialized in automotive electrical repairs.
Pedro Miguel joined the Colombian Army at age 17, where he sharpened his discipline and tenacity—skills he displayed the rest of his life. He was an undefeated boxer in the military for a short period, and a competitive cyclist with great sprinting ability. He enjoyed breaking up the peloton, much to fellow cyclists’ dismay and his amusement. After his military service, he opened his own car repair shop, where he met his wife, Consuelo Amparo Suárez, the daughter of one of his customers.
Realizing he needed to move forward economically to support an eventual family, but also following his thirst to see the world and experience new things, he moved to the United States in 1968. He married Consuelo by proxy, as she remained in Bogotá for another year. He obtained employment in trucking and settled down in New Jersey with his wife, where they had three children. He enjoyed occasional trips to Canada and up and down the east coast while smelling the roses along the way. He had a good voice and enjoyed singing Spanish (from Spain) songs and other songs typical of the mountain regions of Colombia. He once entertained tourists in a restaurant in Granada, Spain by singing the town’s namesake song, which happened to be his favorite, as well. He also loved listening to the greats of classical music, such as Chopin and Beethoven.
He once again showed his entrepreneurial spirit when he moved back to Bogotá with his family in 1981. He opened a hardware store with his father-in-law and was able to send his children to the best schools, giving them the opportunity to completely immerse themselves in Colombian culture and receive an education in both English and Spanish.
In 1988, Pedro Miguel and his family relocated to Houston in pursuit of higher education for his children. He had a mix of entrepreneurial and established occupations (automotive repair and trucking positions). As his children got older, he enjoyed traveling internationally with Consuelo, visiting most of Europe and entertaining fellow tourists with his voice and joyful spirit.
He is survived by his wife, Consuelo Amparo Contreras; daughter, Patricia Consuelo Zapata and husband Gustavo Adolfo Zapata; grandchildren, Daniel Andrés Zapata and Catalina María Zapata; son, Pedro Ricardo (Peter) Contreras and wife Gretta Wolter; grandchildren, Simon Michael Contreras and Margo Grace Contreras; and son, Felipe Andrés Contreras and wife Amy Meisetschlaeger Contreras; and grandchildren Levi Miguel Contreras and Mia Inés Contreras.
A Mass of Christian Burial will take place at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, December 9, 2021 at St. Anne Catholic Church, 2140 Westheimer Road in Houston. Immediately following, the Rite or Committal will take place at Glenwood Cemetery.
For those not able to attend in person, please join the family via the livestream link below.
https://fb.me/e/1sk0gvU49
In lieu of customary remembrances, memorial contributions may be directed to Unbound, a charity mostly benefitting children in need, or to a charity of your choice.
https://www.unbound.org/DonationFunds/General
He was a hard worker from an early age—something that came out of necessity—since his father was estranged, and his mother, Trinidad Contreras, passed away when he was 12. He started working full-time in Bogotá before finishing junior high, primarily working as a mechanic who specialized in automotive electrical repairs.
Pedro Miguel joined the Colombian Army at age 17, where he sharpened his discipline and tenacity—skills he displayed the rest of his life. He was an undefeated boxer in the military for a short period, and a competitive cyclist with great sprinting ability. He enjoyed breaking up the peloton, much to fellow cyclists’ dismay and his amusement. After his military service, he opened his own car repair shop, where he met his wife, Consuelo Amparo Suárez, the daughter of one of his customers.
Realizing he needed to move forward economically to support an eventual family, but also following his thirst to see the world and experience new things, he moved to the United States in 1968. He married Consuelo by proxy, as she remained in Bogotá for another year. He obtained employment in trucking and settled down in New Jersey with his wife, where they had three children. He enjoyed occasional trips to Canada and up and down the east coast while smelling the roses along the way. He had a good voice and enjoyed singing Spanish (from Spain) songs and other songs typical of the mountain regions of Colombia. He once entertained tourists in a restaurant in Granada, Spain by singing the town’s namesake song, which happened to be his favorite, as well. He also loved listening to the greats of classical music, such as Chopin and Beethoven.
He once again showed his entrepreneurial spirit when he moved back to Bogotá with his family in 1981. He opened a hardware store with his father-in-law and was able to send his children to the best schools, giving them the opportunity to completely immerse themselves in Colombian culture and receive an education in both English and Spanish.
In 1988, Pedro Miguel and his family relocated to Houston in pursuit of higher education for his children. He had a mix of entrepreneurial and established occupations (automotive repair and trucking positions). As his children got older, he enjoyed traveling internationally with Consuelo, visiting most of Europe and entertaining fellow tourists with his voice and joyful spirit.
He is survived by his wife, Consuelo Amparo Contreras; daughter, Patricia Consuelo Zapata and husband Gustavo Adolfo Zapata; grandchildren, Daniel Andrés Zapata and Catalina María Zapata; son, Pedro Ricardo (Peter) Contreras and wife Gretta Wolter; grandchildren, Simon Michael Contreras and Margo Grace Contreras; and son, Felipe Andrés Contreras and wife Amy Meisetschlaeger Contreras; and grandchildren Levi Miguel Contreras and Mia Inés Contreras.
A Mass of Christian Burial will take place at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, December 9, 2021 at St. Anne Catholic Church, 2140 Westheimer Road in Houston. Immediately following, the Rite or Committal will take place at Glenwood Cemetery.
For those not able to attend in person, please join the family via the livestream link below.
https://fb.me/e/1sk0gvU49
In lieu of customary remembrances, memorial contributions may be directed to Unbound, a charity mostly benefitting children in need, or to a charity of your choice.
https://www.unbound.org/DonationFunds/General