Maria Elia Barajas

Maria Elia was a beloved mother, sister, daughter, grandmother, friend, wife, and a giving person to all who knew her. She had four daughters – Teresa, Patricia, Susan and Kassandra…and a loving grandmother of twelve (Carlos, James, Natalie, Alyssa, Chris, Angel, Matthew, Cash, Desiree, Jesse, Donovan and Ireland). She had two great granddaughters, Marissa and Nivea.

Maria was a loving sister to Armando, Yolanda, Leon and Raul.

Recently married, she leaves behind her husband Alfredo who loved her and treated her like a queen.

Maria is survived by her mother, Consuelo.

Her contributions included volunteering with the flying doctors of mercy for L.I.G.A., the March of Dimes and she was always lending a hand to those that needed it.

A go-getter and hard-worker, Maria was very proud of her past, 15+ years long, career in public health and advocacy, and her recent 8+ years as a Spanish Interpreter for Children’s Hospital in Madera.

Maria believed in living life fully, being independent, education, working hard and creating your own destiny. Many who have known her for a length of time describe her as being fearless, strong, incredibly intelligent, charming, and always elegant.

A social butterfly, absolutely no one could throw a party like Maria. Her clumsiness was legendary. Her brush with the Lotto and other humorous stories, hilarious. Her love for her family and friends, make us all feel lucky to have had her in our lives. Her bossiness and strong-will, well, that is a part of her that made her “our Maria…our Elia…our Mom…our sister…our daughter…our friend…wife…our special lady.” She will always be loved and in our hearts.

A beauty inside and out, she will be greatly missed and never forgotten.

Originally from Juarez, Mexico, but raised in the U.S., Maria lived in the Salinas/Monterey Bay Area for almost 30 years before making her home in the Fresno area, which she called home. Her finally resting place will be in the beautiful ocean, where her ashes will be spread as per her final wishes