Amalia Guadalupe Reyna

Our beloved Amalia Ramirez Reyna passed on as a guardian angel on October 10th, 2023, in her

hometown surrounded by family members. It is with great sorrow and bittersweet gratitude that

we think back on all of the ways she has impacted us as a mother, sister, aunt, grandmother and

friend.

Born in Fresno, CA in 1943, to Maria Barbo and Eulogio Ramirez, Amalia grew up in the area

alongside her sister Carmen Ramirez Federmeyer and her brother Lloyd Ramirez.

Later on she gained two half-sisters from her mother and stepfather’s marriage, Gloria and Liz Valdez.

Amalia was proud to be Mexican American and spoke passionately about her ancestral roots and family

in Jalisco, Mexico. At this moment she would likely interject to say “Hecho en México,” because

that is where she was conceived, but first and foremost, Fresno, California, was her home.

In 1959, Amalia married Joe Montanez in Fresno and had her baby boys, Richard Montanez and

Jerry Montanez. The couple divorced in 1970, leading Amalia to meet Rudy Reyna, who was

often referred to as “the love of her life.”

Rudy encouraged and supported Amalia while she

pursued higher education. She graduated from Fresno State in 1985 with a B.A. in Liberal Arts.

During their marriage she gave birth to her third son, Miguel Reyna, and her baby girl, Veronica

Armstrong Reyna.

Amalia stood by Rudy’s side throughout his valiant battle with lung cancer until he passed September of 1990.

She later met Ben Gonzalez, He and Amalia married in Fresno and shared 32 years together while her grandchildren grew into promising young adults.

For many years, Amalia served the County of Fresno as a social worker, sharing her empathetic

nature and personal understanding of adversity with many. At home Amalia shared her love of

horror movies and film noir with her family, and was well known for putting on the 1972 classic,

The Godfather, for entertainment during holidays and the long process of hand making tamales.

As a naturally hilarious woman herself (who could’ve easily passed as a standup comedian),

Amalia adored other funny women like Lucille Ball and Carol Barnette. Paintings by Diego

Rivera were cherished in her household, where she would also play her favorite songs by Linda

Ronstadt while making homemade plates of chile rellenos, menudo, fideo and beans, and

chicken con mole, and arroz con leche.

Amalia is survived by her four children, 11 grandchildren, and their growing families. Without a

doubt, her family was her greatest love and the apple of her eye. Amalia was an undeniably

original woman who was incredibly strong willed and fiercely loyal, and we will miss her

greatly. We know she has finally been reunited with the family she loved and lost, and her spirit

will always guide and protect us in life.

A Visitation for Amalia will be held Monday, October 23, 2023 from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM at Whitehurst Sullivan Burns & Blair Funeral Home, 836 E Nees Ave, Fresno, California 93720.

A Recitation of the Holy Rosary will occur Monday, October 23, 2023 at 6:00 PM, 836 E Nees Ave, Fresno, California 93720.

A Mass of Christian Burial will occur Tuesday, October 24, 2023 at 9:00 AM at St. John's Cathedral, 2814 Mariposa Street, Fresno, California 93721. A committal service will occur Tuesday, October 24, 2023 at St. Peter's Catholic Cemetery, 264 N Blythe Ave, Fresno, California 93706.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.whitehurstsullivan.com for the Reyna family.