Pedro Carranza Plaza, 81, passed on February 16, 2022 in Louisville, Kentucky, surrounded by his loved ones.

Pedro Carranza Plaza was born to Jesus Plaza Perez and Macaria Carranza Ortega on June 29, 1941 in Via Jimenez, Michoacán, Mexico. Most of his childhood and youth was spent in Sinaloa, Mexico, where he learned the art of making bread with his brothers. In 1965, Pedro arrived in California where he would later marry Melania Mata Plaza in 1973. The two of them raised their five children in Gilroy, CA. Pedro was a longtime Gilroy resident who retired from Gilroy Foods in 2003 after working many years as a maintenance technician.

Pedro was a devout Christian. His love for Christ was authentic and indubitable. On his occasional walks by the ocean or during a celebratory dinner, he would raise his hands and shout "Thank You Lord!," because he was always grateful for God's blessings, both big and small.

He found joy in baking bread, going for walks, watching the 49ers and Giants play, and fishing. Above all, Pedro loved to be surrounded by his children and grandchildren. His favorite thing to do was sit in the backyard under the wooden arbor, sprawling with grapevines he planted some 20 years ago, enjoying the company of his family and sharing a meal together. During his children and grandchildrens award and graduation ceremonies, he was always the most animated in the crowd. Pedro was the loudest shouter and clapper when it came to cheering on his family; his congratulatory whistle carried heavily above all the other noise in a crowd.

He is survived by his wife Melania Mata Plaza, his children Pedro Plaza Jr., Eduardo Plaza (Rebecca Plaza), Veronica Plaza Gutierrez (Edgar Gutierrez), Alva Plaza (Derek Rodriguez), Josue Plaza; his grandchildren Angelica Plaza, Matthew Plaza, Andrew Plaza, Giovanni Plaza, Jeremiah Plaza, Ava Rodriguez, Valeria Gutierrez, Madison Plaza, Ysabella Gutierrez, Maribel Plaza; and his great grandson, Martin Gutierrez.

He was preceded in death by his grandson Jonathan Flores; his father, Jesus Plaza Perez; his mother, Macarria Carranza Ortega; brothers Dimas Plaza, Angel Plaza, Salvador Plaza, Baldemar Plaza, Adolfo Plaza, David Plaza; and his sister Aurora Plaza Mata.

A Visitation will be held on Saturday, March 5, 2022  at 12:00 noon at Habing Family Funeral Home. The Funeral service will follow at 1:00pm. Burial will immediately follow the Funeral service at Gavilan Hills Memorial Park.