Maria De La Paz Sanchez (Padilla)

The beacon that lighted our paths throughout our lives has forever been extinguished. Maria De La Paz Sanchez (Padilla) debuted into this world on a Saturday, August 22, 1943 in Quila el Grande, Jalisco, Mexico to Jose Sanchez and Camila Guerrero (Sanchez).

Maria was a vivacious, rambunctious child. Being the only child of the union, she was the apple of her fathers eye and was treated as such. Maria met and married her eternal love, Luis Padilla on July 18, 1964 in Guadalajara, Jalisco. Together, they embarked on many adventures as they made their life together. They lived in many places until they settled in Yakima in 1979, she picked this place as the landscape and weather reminded her of her childhood home.

Together, they built a home and raised family of 10, Maria Dolores (Lola) and spouse Abraham Licea, Jorge, Luz, Luis, Maria and spouse Jaime Nicacio, Steven, Karla Leticia and spouse Sergio Reyna, Veronica, Korina and fiancée Danny Larouque, and Ricardo Carlos (Ricky), 46 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren.

Maria worked at Snokist Cannery where she was known and loved for 30 years. She was also known to work two jobs during harvest season, as she was an extremely hard worker. No matter what, her home was always warm and inviting with enticing aromas coming from her kitchen.

Maria was an enigma as she was tough as nails but had a heart that was pure as the driven snow. When you were hurt, she healed you, hungry, she fed you, feeling down, she built you up; or if you just wanted some one to talk to, her home was always open and her coffee talks and laughter were legendary. She had the unique ability to make everyone feel like the “favorite” and most important person in the world when you were around her.

She showed her love by teaching us to be strong. She didn’t get the advantage of an education but worked hard to ensure her family had the opportunities she did not. Through it all, she never complained or shed a tear, even in the end while battling stage 4 gall bladder cancer, she stayed strong for her family.

Maria was a natural storyteller and would captivate those around her with her infectious personality, she was known to have “fans” as everyone she interacted with loved her and called her “grandma,” she was the type of person that made an immediate impact upon meeting her, you could not help but love her.

Maria loved to laugh, dance and sing, she was the party director in the family and no get together was complete until Grandma made an appearance. She had a green thumb, she could be found tending her garden at all times. Her favorites were white roses. If we could bottle her spirit, energy, and love, we would be rich overnight as everyone would want a dose and our world would be the Utopia we can only dream about.

Mama will be missed by many and her memory will be honored by her friends and family, we were robbed of time with her but she will live on through her children, grandchildren and descendants to come.

Viewing will be held at Keith and Keith Funeral Home, Monday the 19th 11 am - 3 pm. Funeral services will be held Friday, February 23rd at 1 pm at Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Moxee, WA. Burial will follow at Holy Rosary Cemetary. Please join us to say a final farewell to “La Generala,” we love too much!