Mary "Veva" Genevieve Castro

To Mary Genevieve "Veva" Castro, the entire world was a stage. An expressive, optimistic, and uninhibited individual, she was a performer in the theater of life. To everyone around her, she seemed to be eternally happy, and she willingly shared that joy with anyone whose life she touched. For Veva, bringing out the best in any situation was as easy as offering a smile, a witty remark or the twinkle of an eye. And with just those simple gestures, she could evoke the most pleasant of emotions. Veva really mastered the art of living and had great fun in doing so.

Veva was born on September 24, 1933 at home in Westminster, California. Her parents were Jose Luis Alonzo and Rachel Montes. Veva was raised in Westminster. Even as a child, Veva had the ability to lift the spirits of all those around her. She was raised to be warm, caring and friendly. She couldn’t help but capture everyone’s attention. She was definitely a little bit of a show off, but in doing so, she succeeded in entertaining her entire family.

Always a good playmate, Veva was easygoing and fun loving. She managed to lighten the mood wherever she was, even during family squabbles. She seemed to have a knack for bringing compromise and erasing tense situations around the house. Due to a generous dose of common sense, Veva managed to find a satisfying solution to basic problems. Veva was raised with 2 sisters and 2 brothers. She had Mary, Rebecca,Henry,Louis.

Ask anyone who knew her from school and they would tell you that Veva was a class “cut-up.” She didn’t do it to be unkind or to garner all the attention. Rather, Veva simply enjoyed others’ laughter and the sounds of her friends and acquaintances having a good time. It could be said that for Veva, grades may not have been the most important thing to her, but she really did enjoy her school experience. Since experience was Veva's best teacher. She enjoyed hands-on learning and applying the “practical” approach to knowledge, rather than getting caught up in “theory.” Veva graduated from Chula Vista High School in 1952. She enjoyed some courses more than others, having favorite classes and teachers.

Veva never actually encountered a stranger in her dealings with people. She was drawn to individuals and crowds, using her gregarious, adaptable and outgoing personality to captivate her audience. This quality allowed Veva to continually develop new relationships, ever widening her circle of friends. Veva delighted in her role among all her acquaintances, because she viewed them all as potential spectators for her performance. Whether it was a story, a joke, a song or just plain fooling around, Veva was always right at home putting on a show among her friends. Veva utilized her interest in others as a great way to connect with them. While growing up, some of her best friends were Tonia Cortez, Olivia Raynaga, and Alice Madueño. Later in life, she became friends with Tonia Cortez, Leonor Silva and Alicia Lucero. Veva loved sharing life and having her home filled with people she knew.

The gift of being emotionally expressive and outwardly affectionate made Veva very easy to approach. On June 16, 1956 Veva exchanged wedding vows with Merced Castro at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church of Otay, California. She tried hard not to impose on her spouse. She was always sensitive to other people’s feelings, and that was especially true in marriage.

Perhaps the reason Veva related so well to children was the fact that she never really completely grew up herself. The ability to be just a “kid at heart” helped her in raising her own children. Veva was blessed with five children, one daughter Laura, and four sons Fred, Tom, Gilbert and Jim. They were also blessed with five grandchildren, Allen, Abigail, Alexandra, Robert and Sophie. Veva had the ability to focus her attention on the present moment. If she was spending time with the kids, that’s where all of her attention was directed. Veva's compassionate side prevented her from being a strict disciplinarian, and she could turn just about any situation into a playful, learning experience. She could spend hours entertaining them with fun and creative play. In fact, Veva had a knack for turning some of those nasty old chores into games.

At work, as in life, Veva was a real “people person.” She had a very successful way of dealing effectively with others, and her enthusiasm and energy was often contagious. Veva liked to see herself as something of a virtuoso. When dealing with various projects and problems, Veva was an adaptable realist, using her common sense and trusting her experiences and impulses to uncover the correct answer. Veva's talent for being a down to earth thinker, allowed many around her to see Veva as an excellent problem solver. Her primary occupation was homemaker. She was a volunteer at Spotwelder Convalescent Hospital Aide and School District Bookbinder.

Veva enjoyed her leisure time by taking part in various hobbies. An “arts and crafts” type, Veva liked creating and making things. Her favorite pursuits were ceramics,uphostelry, knitting,sewing,crocheting,dancing and watching Spanish Novelas. Veva was content to enjoy her hobbies alone but was also willing to share her interests with others.

Living life in the fast lane suited Veva just fine. It is no surprise that she loved to travel and to visit new and different places. She was naturally curious about other parts of the world and loved the real life adventure that came from visiting them. She was impulsive and willing to try anything once. Favorite vacations included camping on the beach and Puerto Vallarta.

Veva was a lover of animals and cherished her pets, enjoying them almost as much as she enjoyed being around other people. Her family was rounded out by her Cockatiels Rocky and Peaches, and her dogs Snoopy, Lefty and Oso.

Veva passed away on September 13, 2011 at At home in Chula Vista California. 10 year struggle with a debilitating disease, Dystonia. She is survived by her husband Merced, daughter Laura, Sons Fred,Tom, Gilbert and Jim, Grandchildren Allen,Robert,Abigail,Alexandra and Sophie and her siblings Beca and Louis. Services were held at St Rose of Lima Church in Chula Vista, CA. Veva was laid to rest in Holy Cross Cemetery.

Veva brought joy to all of those around her. She never had a mean bone in her body. She loved to have a good time and was an eternal optimist, always looking on the bright side of things. She loved to share her energy, wit, and her zest for all of her activities with her friends and family. Mary Genevieve "Veva" Castro lived life to its fullest and made everyone around her happier just for knowing her. She will be remembered with a smile.