Linda Natalia Castillo

Linda Natalia Castillo was born on February 9th 1917 in Redlands, California to Moses and Evelyn Martinez. She was the second oldest of five siblings that included two sisters, Lucille and Angie, and two brothers, Reynaldo and Jim.

Linda grew up in a happy family filled with love, laughter, lots of friends, good food, and lots of music.

Life was hard during Linda's young years so she left school after the 8th grade to work and help her father Moses support the rest of the family.

She worked many jobs as a young girl in Redlands. I know that she worked doing laundry, and as a live in housekeeper and nanny to many families in the upscale area of Redlands known as Smiley Heights.

During the war, Linda worked as an Administrative Assistant along with her sister Angie at what became known later on as Norton Air Force Base.

Linda's last employer was San Bernardino Hospital where she worked as a Nurses Aide. She spent many years working the night shift along with lots of Holidays. She worked very hard for many years and finally retired in the mid 1980's.

Linda had a talent in sketching beautiful drawings that were comprised into a binder that has not been seen in years. She also enjoyed gong to the dances with her brothers and sisters.

In 1946 she married George Filomeno Castillo, who had just returned from the war. They never had any children and Linda continued working at the hospital while George worked as a construction worker. They lived in San Bernardino until George passed away at the early age of 52 in 1968.

Linda continued working and spending time with friends. She traveled with her two close girlfriends to Hawaii on a cruise. This was her first real vacation which she deserved.

Linda decided to retire in the mid 1980's and started dating an old friend she had known for years named Aime Parenteau. They traveled throughout the United States and Linda enjoyed it all. Aime took her to visit his family in Colorado and she finally had an extended family that she loved and felt close to. She was enjoying her life with someone who really cared about her. Linda and Aime moved to Colton and they were together for 25 years until he passed away around 1999.

In her later years, Linda spent much of her time to herself watching her favorite cooking shows and scary movies. She didn't go out much.

She was visited by her brother Jim and sister-in-law Kelly and their family. Brother Reynaldo and sister-in-law Millie and family lived in Washington so she would receive calls from them every week.

Her sister Angie and brother-in-law Manuel spent time every week to take her out to dinner and to have her favorite dessert, vanilla ice cream. Angie and Manuel took Linda out shopping and continued spending lots of time with her throughout her life. Angie was a good sister to Linda and Manuel took care of any financial concerns and handy man issues she needed.

Her nephew Martin who also lived in Georgia would visit when he would come out to see his parents.

Her niece Laura and husband Jess and family spent many Birthdays and Holidays with Linda over the years.

After Manuel passed away in 2011, Martin took over the financial responsibilities and Laura and Jess took over all the responsibilities as a care giver to Linda.

Linda was a beautiful lady. She was independent and very strong willed. She never wanted to be a burden to anyone and we all respected her. She had a wonderful personality and a joyful spirit. She kept to herself and lived a quiet and peaceful long life. She passed away quietly in her sleep at the age of 96. We loved her a lot and she will truly be missed in our lives.

Rest in Peace Aunt Linda.

Linda will have Memorial service on Thursday, February 27, 2014 at 2:00 P.M. in the Valley View Chapel at Montecito Mortuary with inurnment to follow at Montecito Memorial Park, both in Colton, California.Arrangements under the direction of Montecito Memorial Park & Mortuary, Colton, California.

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Memories of Linda

Since Linda didn't have children, I was very lucky to be able to spend a lot of time with her on weekends. I loved staying for overnight visits at her house. I'm not sure if Linda was a really good cook, one day my dad and I came over to visit, she was cooking Menudo on the stove top. That pot was boiling hard for a good long time, so long the paint on the kitchen wall started to peel off LOL! We aways had a good laugh in our family . . . when things didn't go right, laugh it off and blame it on Martinez Luck!

I remember Linda worked at the hospital and had to get up super early (4 a.m.) to go to work, she was a hard working gal and had lots of friends at her job. She always had her uniform perfectly pressed and ready to wear every Sunday night.

Linda was the coolest Aunt with a VW Bug, she got to travel and go on cruises while she was single (after Uncle George died). Her friend Clairesse and she had some fun times, they got all dolled up, dressed nicely and went out for meals, etc. During that time, Linda met Amie and they enjoyed each other's company for many years as partners. Aime was a very kind man and truly adored Linda.

Some of my fondest memories were time spent with my mom Millie, the Aunties (Linda & Angie) and my cousin, Laura we would sit and visit for hours, cook and eat together or go shopping. The best times were laughing over such silly things (stories of experiences gone wrong) until we all would have tears running down our faces! I do miss those fun visits, so much laughter and love shared when the women and girls were together!

After I married and had both of my son's Linda told me she aways wanted a son and she loved the name Zachary (my oldest in college now). She faithfully would not only send me Birthday and Christmas cards, but also sent my boys cards every year for their birthdays. As she entered her nineties she would apologize that she just didn't feel up to sending card any longer. Cards were replaced with personal phone calls premised with "I am sorry I didn't send a card . . .Happy Birthday Honey."

In later years, Rey and Linda would talk on the phone every Wednesday night to discuss their favorite show, Dancing with the Start. Those once a week phone calls were expected and turned often to laughing about the bad food, nosey people and other funny stories about the Assisted Living place they each lived in (across the miles). I know Rey will miss those weekly conversations with his sister very much.

RIP Linda Castillo - We will miss our "swinging Aunt" her laugh, her smile and her love.