She also served as campaign manager for her husband Alberto Antonio Peña Jr. who was elected Bexar County Commissioner.
Her father, Guadalupe Gutierrez Ramos, worked for a Mexican-owned soda manufacturer as a beverage delivery driver who delivered to various retailers in the San Antonio area.
In her own words, “I grew up in the West Side on Leona Street and went to Navarro School for elementary and then to Joel Chandler Harris and finally San Antonio Tech High School.” As she recalls, “I had a very bad accent and spoke no English but was very lucky that I got one of the teachers who was bilingual, so she could teach us in both languages.
"[2] Peña was involved with various organizations, including the Democratic Women's Club, American GI Forum, and LULAC.
[2] She was responsible for organizing multiple political movements, the running of Albert's campaigns, and is noted as one of the first Mexican members of the Democratic Women's Club.