WATSONVILLE — Maria Rebecca Mendez died peacefully surrounded by her children and family on Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2018. She was 98.
She was born in Ardmore, Okla. on Dec. 22, 1919. She had three brothers, Victor, Jose and Pedro and a sister, Lupe. She worked in the fields for over 35 years picking cotton, beets, potatoes, prunes and cherries. She had a wonderful green thumb and all of her gardens reflected this with the beautiful flowers and vegetables she grew. She loved to cook and the family has many wonderful memories of the meals she served them.
She was preceded in death by her son, Elias Mendez; and her husband, Vicente Mendez. She raised nine children, Rita Macias, Frank (Frances) Martinez, Richard (Lydia) Martinez, Vicente (Sylvia) Mendez, Jr., Daniel (Irma) Mendez, Elizabeth Vasquez, Alamar (Arthur) Ramos and Pauline Rodriguez. She had 32 grandchildren and over 50 great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.
A funeral service will be held at Valley Cemetery on Friday, Jan. 19 at 1 p.m. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, Jan. 20 at Watsonville First United Methodist Church at 229 Stanford St., Watsonvile at 1 p.m. Mehl’s Colonial Chapel has been entrusted with funeral arrangements.
