Ana Teresa Valverde

Ana Teresa Valverde was born in Calexico, California, the eldest daughter of Jose Valverde of Spain and Maria Moreno Valverde of Mexico. She spent her early childhood in Calexico, then in Tecate, California, then moved to San Diego in the early 1930’s, living for many years in the family home on E Street. Anita, as she was known to everyone, saw her life reflected in the great changes and historical events that shaped San Diego in the years of the Great Depression and World War II. She attended San Diego High School and then got her first job working in the Van Camp cannery in Barrio Logan, packing tuna fish. When the war came she got a job at the Consolidated Aircraft factory at Lindbergh Field. She worked as a riveter; she laid down wiring harnesses; and she assembled wing flaps and bomb bay doors. She was Rosy the Riveter.

With all their fears and uncertainties, the war years were the most exciting of Anita’s life. It was exciting fun to work at Consolidated, and after work it was fun to go to a party or to drive over to Tijuana to visit friends and family. Like many others, Anita married a local boy who was serving in the Army. But the marriage didn’t last – another casualty of the War. In later life she had many suitors, but she was a bit skittish about marriage, and unwilling to give up her independence. Instead, she became a beloved auntie to her many nieces and nephews and a companion to her mother.

After the War Anita and a partner opened up a small Mexican restaurant – the Mary-Ana Café – in North Park, where she did most of the cooking, laying the foundation for a lifelong love of preparing delicious Mexican food. After her father’s death in 1963, Anita and her mother moved to Los Angeles, where she worked for many years for the Savon company before moving back to San Diego when she retired.

Anita had a very comfortable retirement, living with her mother in Chula Vista, close by to most of her family. After her mother’s death in 1996, her brother Joe and his wife Alicia moved into the house in Chula Vista to be with her. Anita had lots of time for the things she loved: organizing and attending parties for family and friends; participating in the life of her local parish; cooking delicious Mexican food; and playing the guitar and singing the Mexican songs of her youth. Music ran deep in Anita’s soul. She had a fine, strong voice and a natural ear for music, whether pounding out a tune on the piano or surprising someone with a rendition of “Happy Birthday” on the harmonica.

Jolly, fun loving, kind and generous, Anita died at home in her sleep, secure in the love of her family and friends and happy after a long and full life. She is survived by her brother Joseph Valverde, her sisters Mary Mandra and Norma Leonard, and by her many nieces, nephews and cousins, who knew her as their beloved “Auntie Anita.”

A Rosary will be said at the Humphrey Mortuary at 753 Broadway in Chula Vista at 7 p.m. on Thursday, September 23rd. A funeral mass will be held at 1 p.m. on Friday, September 24th at St. Pius X Church, 1120 Cuyamaca Ave. in Chula Vista, with burial to follow at Holy Cross Cemetery, 4470 Hilltop Drive, San Diego.