Guadalupe Beltran Elizalde

Guadalupe Beltran Elizalde was the oldest daughter of Salome Sr. and Consuelo Beltran born on October 12, 1936, in Cotulla, Texas. She was one of 11 children. As a young child, Guadalupe followed her family as a seasonal farm worker to Chicago and California. When she was 14 her father entrusted her with driving the farm truck as needed and as she always said she could barely reach the pedals. She picked cotton, strawberries, lettuce, apples and more. She met her "one and only" when she was 18. They eventually eloped along with another couple who were lifelong friends of theirs on December 31, 1951, in Reno Nevada. In October the following year they were expecting their first child, which happened to be born on Lupe's birthday that year. This would be the first of 4 sons that Lupe and her husband would have.

Throughout her married life she was a homemaker, housekeeper, and seamstress in Watsonville. Her hobbies included Bing, puzzles, gardening, casino trips as well as an avid crocheter. She and her husband would travel on road trips with her brother-in-law Mando and his wife, Licha every spring and summer when life would allow. When her first grandchild was born, she and her husband took on the responsibility of raising him with their youngest son still at home. That relationship she would have told anyone was an extremely precious one.

When her husband was due to retire, they made the decision to purchase a home in the valley. They had a home built and retired in Madera, CA. They spent the remainder of their years together there until her husband's passing in July 2022. In October of 2022 she moved back to Watsonville to be near her oldest and youngest sons. She resided with her oldest son and his wife until her passing.

Lupe is survived by her three sons: Pedro "Peter" Jr. (Angie Padilla) Elizalde, Raymond Elizalde and Manuel (Stephine) Elizalde; her siblings Salome Beltran Jr., Dora Cortez, Robert Beltran, Peno Beltran, Armando Beltran and Felipa Haeflinger. Lupe also leaves behind her grandchildren: Tabitha Didrickson, Fernando Jr., Danielle, Zackariah, Peter, Sophia and Adrian Elizalde, as well as her great-grandchildren Alani, Isaac, Alexis, Ilyzah, Zanniyz, Zackariah Jr., Ilyanna and Dakota Elizalde. Lupe was preceded in death by her loving husband Pedro Elizalde Sr., her son Fernando Elizalde, her brothers, John Beltran, Cruz Beltran and Louie Beltran, and her sister Youlanda Rosie Beltran.

The Viewing and Rosary will be held on Thursday, May 18, from 4-8 p.m. at Mehl's Colonial Chapel (222 E. Lake Ave.) with a Rosary starting at 6:30 p.m. A Funeral Mass will be held at Our Lady Help of Christians Catholic Church (2445 E. Lake Ave.) on Friday, May 19, beginning at 10 a.m., with the burial immediately following the Mass at Valley Public Cemetery.

Published in The Pajaronian · May 12, 2023