Denise Gonzalez

Name: Denise Gonzalez.

Age: 38.

Family: Parents, Felix and Eva Rivera; children, Kayla Ellis, Kirra Ellis and Anthony Vega.

Residence: Marysville.

Occupation: Cook at Carl's Jr. in Marysville, coming up on three years.

Hobbies, interests: I like to go watch my son play football. He plays for Marysville High School.

Where do you get your news? Facebook — That's where I heard about the tornado Monday.

What brought you to the Yuba-Sutter area? Born in Yuba City.

What do you like best about the area? I like the people and the community. It's such a small community that everywhere you go you often see people you know.

What is the closest you've been to a famous person? I met singer Gustavo Rivera at Feather Falls Casino in Oroville. Then I met him again in Yuba City and he remembered me from the casino — he wanted to take my son with him on his tour.

Who has had a strong influence in your life? God — I lived a lot of my younger years addicted to drugs and then changed my life. I have been clean and sober for four years now and God had a lot to do with it. He still does.

What did you want to be when you were a kid? I wanted to be a secretary.

What is one of your fondest memories? Family times like Thanksgiving, the holidays. Just being close with my family.

What would you like to see different in the community? Places for kids to go to, where they could hang out and be safe.

Favorite movie: "Almost Famous."

What do you like about yourself? That I'm very forgiving. I don't hold grudges, don't hate anybody. I don't judge people.

What are you best known for? Maybe how I changed my life. Everybody that knows me knows what I've been through; I'm not ashamed of it. I get a lot of praises from my family how good I'm doing now. It makes me feel good that it shows.

What would you do with a million dollars? Buy a big house for me and my family and new cars for all of us.

Where is your dream vacation? Hawaii. ... I haven't been there.

Favorite book: The Bible.