Maria Antonia Ruiz Mendez
Obituary
Maria Antonia Ruiz Mendez died on Oct. 8. She was 69 and was born on Oct. 27 1950, in Villamar, Michoacán, Mexico.
In 1974, at 23, Ms. Ruiz arrived in Los Angeles and worked at The More The Mary, before getting married to Manuel Ruiz and moving to Watsonville. For most of her career, she worked at Smuckers Cannery before devoting her time to her husband and children. Some of her greatest passions included helping those in need and attending church. She also loved traveling to Mexico and knitting clothing for her grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband Manuel Ruiz, her parents Jesus Mendez and Anita Ortega and her sister, Socorro.
She is survived by her six children, Salvador, Jesus, Juan, Manuel, Isabel and David, her five siblings, Angelina, Maria de Jesus, Luis, Federico and Fidel; her 23 grandchildren; and her 13 great-grandchildren.
A public visitation will be held on Oct. 20 at 5pm at Ave Maria Memorial Chapel in Watsonville, with a blessing to take place at 7pm.
Arrangements have been entrusted in the care of the Carroll Family of Ave Maria Memorial Chapel, www.avemariamemorialchapel.com.
Published in The Pajaronian · October 16, 2020