Our Mom 104 years old peacefully entered into rest, in her home in Gilroy, CA surrounded by her four children, grandchildren and great-great grandchildren. She is survived by her children Lillie Fuentes (Robert), Fair Play, CA; Tommy Vasquez, Hemet, CA; Fred Vasquez, Watsonville, CA; and Jennie Susan Vasquez-Morse, Fremont, CA; and her sister, Mercy Vasquez of WA.  Mom is survived by 10 grandchildren, 23 great grandchildren and 4 great-great grandchildren;  her loving caregiver, Mali, and her devoted little dog Cookie.

She was preceded in death by her husband John V. Vasquez in 2000; her parents, Tomas and Mariana Amaya; paternal grandparents Francisco and Gorgonia Amaya; her brothers Lorenzo Amaya and Jay Amaya; and her sisters Ysabel Amaya, Aurora Vasquez, and Socorro Martinez.

Mom was born in Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico, May 5, 1914. Mom's age is actually 105 years old.  According to Mom, her grandpa wrote all the grandkids' birthdates on a small piece of paper.  Based on that family birthday log, Mom always celebrated her birthday on May 5th.  But, about ten years ago we found Mom's baptismal certificate dated June, 1914.  It indicated she was four months old, thus she was actually born in February, 1914.

She came to the United States with her family around the age of 7. She was the second oldest of seven (7) children. Her family lived in Colton, CA and moved along with the Santa Fe Railroad for which her father and grandfather worked.

Mom & Dad married September 8, 1936, moving to Gilroy after marriage.  As the eldest daughter, she brought her younger sisters and 5 year-old brother to Gilroy because Mom's parents and grandparents had passed away. Mom has lived in Gilroy for the last 83 years.

Mom was a woman of faith who found great joy in the Lord.  She deeply believed "Jesus is my Strength."  That message was printed and kept on her kitchen table where she could read  it at every meal.  Mom was an active member of St. Mary Parish where she was a member of prayer groups: Guadalupana, Charismatic, Catholic Ladies of St. Mary, and was a Eucharist Minster for many years. She volunteered to work at the Church gift shop, until about the age of ninety-six (96).

Beginning in her late 90's when Mom could no longer live alone in her home, she was blessed to have the loving support of several wonderful caregivers, most recently Mali.  If not for our nephew John Frederick, I don't know what we would have done about Mom's care. He was a godsend. He handled all the practical details that made for a positive care experience for Mom.  He made her so happy spending time together.  Thank you John Frederick and Mali!

By the Grace of God, she was able to travel to the Holy Land: Jerusalem, Rome, Lourdes, and Fatima.

Mom had a gentle loving heart and sweet manner. Her love in life centered around the Lord and her Family, whether she was taking grandkids camping, making tortillas for them, training for a 10k running race and knitting or crocheting slippers and blankets for family. Her home was filled with family every holiday of every year with as many as five (5) generations. There was chaotic joy for all of us when we spent time with Grandma at Grandma's home.

Over the years, her love and compassion extended to being supportive to nephews and nieces.

Mom was a loving, remarkable, and eminently hard-working woman of many God-given gifts. In her early years, she toiled in the garlic and tomato fields along with other crops, worked at Gubser's garlic warehouse, she worked at Gentry for over twenty (20) years and retired as a Forelady(supervisor).

Mom was very industrious. Throughout all of her working years at Gentry, she simultaneously operated small home-based businesses including selling Beauty Counselor Skin Care, Fashion Frocks, Tupperware, Blair Ladies' Clothing, Amway Home Products and Avon. She was also a property manager of her own rental homes.

Mom and Dad worked hard in order to purchase their home on Glenwood Drive. Mom and Dad housed hunted. Before Dad knew it, Mom had made the down payment on the family home. Subsequently, they moved into town from their home on Frazier Lake Road in 1956.

Mom was a handy "Mrs. Fix-It" repairing plumbing, electrical and upholstering their sofa, chairs and kitchen stools in their home. She was also an extraordinary cook, making the best avena, nopalitos con chile, enchiladas, chiles rellenos, etc.  Everything she made was fantastic!  In addition, she was a remarkable seamstress, sewing the most beautiful satin-lined suits and fancy dresses.

Mom had a formal education through the sixth grade. Her schooling was curtailed so she could help with the family's financial needs. She enhanced her English language skills by being an avid reader. Mom was fluently bi-lingual.  She valued education and actively encouraged her children's education.  In the 1960's, she enrolled in Gilroy Adult School night classes with aspirations of someday earning a high school diploma.  Although she did not reach that particular goal because of other family obligations, she always strived for self-improvement by educating herself through reading.   Mom studied very hard and proudly became a United States citizen sometime in the 1950's.

Mom has gone to be with the Lord.

Mom we will miss you dearly, until we meet again.

We will miss you Mom. Love, Lillie & Robert Fuentes, Tommy Vasquez, Fred Vasquez & Suzie; and Jennie Susan (Sue) Vasquez-Morse

We will miss you Grandma, Bobby, John, Eric, Michael, Cynthia, Carla, Adam, Birdie, Greg, and Jarrod

We will miss you Great-Grandma, Tucker, Brianna, Jackie (Saul), Marcus, Hannah, Weston, Jessica, Michael (Miguelito), Noah, Amaya, Julianna, Kamy, Sarrah, Vanessa, Xavier, Sofia, Robert, Ryan, Bailey, Savannah, Laurie, Jarrod, and Stephen.

We will miss you Great-Great Grandma Savannah, Kilynn, Kellen and Reagan.

Thank the Lord.

Visitation will be held on Sunday, April 7, 2019 at 3:00 pm, Rosary at 7:00 pm at Habing Family Funeral Home, 129 4 ^th Street, Gilroy, CA 95020. Phone: 408.847.4040. Funeral Mass will be held Monday, April 8, 2019, 10:00 am at St. Mary Church, Gilroy.  Burial will be at St. Mary Cemetery.