Margarita M. Melendez

Margarita Mireles Melendez passed away on October 12, 2015 in Ventura, CA. Margarita, known by many as “Doña Mague”, was born February 23rd, 1932 in Gomez Palacio, in the state of Durango, Mexico.

Early life in Mexico included accompanying her father, Manuel, an ambulance driver, on emergency calls, serving as a first aid assistant. It was older brother Abelino who one day shared his little sister’s photo to his best friend Simon Melendez, whom he worked alongside in Saticoy, CA.

Simon never forgot the image of the beautiful girl in the photo. Their courtship was interrupted by war, however, because Simon was soon called to service to fight in Korea. Upon his return, Margarita married Simon in Los Angeles on Feb. 3, 1953. They would spend nearly 50 years together, raising their family in Ventura.

Hard to believe at one time she didn’t know how to cook! The story goes Simon sent his new bride to his mother, Isabel Ortega, to learn how to make tortillas and beans. She was given a” molcajete”, and taught how to make the hot red chile our Dad loved.

Give mom a few minutes, and she would tell a story. She shared stories of her early life in Mexico, arrival in California , life with her “Viejo” Simon and his heroic deeds in Korea. Of course, she always enjoyed sharing stories of her children and grand children.

Margarita was proud to raise her five children in her adopted country. It was one the proudest moments of her life when, on July 13th 1995 she became a U.S. citizen. She was proud of the military honors awarded to her “Viejo” Simon when he passed away in 2002.

Margarita leaves behind five children, nine grandchildren and one great grandchild; Ricardo/ Cori, Marta, Roy(Irma)/ Branden, Benjamin, Mariza, Nathan, Mariza(Kevin)/ Noel, Maura, and Marlena(Scott)/Simon, Stephanie and great-grand child Aiyana. She is also survived by her brothers Ruben and Roberto and sisters Eva, Maria-Luisa, and Magdelena.

A bilingual memorial chapel service is scheduled for October 28 at 10:00 am at Funeraria Del Angel, Conrad’s & James Reardon, 401 W. Channel Islands Blvd., Oxnard, CA. Burial service immediately following at Santa Clara Cemetery , Oxnard, CA.

of Funeraria del angel Conrad's & James Reardon, Oxnard, CA.