Maria De La Luz Enriquez

If anyone ever cared, really cared for someone else it would have to be Maria De La Luz Enriquez. She was a warm hearted and well liked individual, and these wonderful traits came easily to her because she was such a sociable and amiable person, someone who was always making certain that those around her had whatever they needed. Maria was a talkative person who was tactful at all times but typically said what she meant.

Maria was born in Guadalupe, Zacatecas, Mexico. She was the daughter of Antonio and Teotila Ortiz. Maria was raised in Zacatecas, Mexico. During her childhood she learned to be reliable and respectful. Maria was an obedient child who wanted to win the favor of others. She found it easy to show sympathy and to perform kind acts for others. These admirable qualities would become a part of Maria's personality throughout her life.

Though Maria was frequently the one to initiate games and activities with her family, she was also quite often the family member who took the role of referee. Maria was a peace-maker with an ability to resolve all sorts of family conflicts. In fact, Maria worked conscientiously to keep those typical family spats at bay. Maria was raised with five siblings. She had two sisters (older) Chela and Margaret, three brothers Juan, Manuel, and Emilio.

As someone who reveled in the sheer joy of her experiences, Maria was always enthusiastic about new adventures. Although she had an exacting nature, Maria was always tactful. One thing Maria will certainly be remembered for is that, when she got up in the mornings, she was ready and raring to go. As a young girl, Maria had a number of interests and was an active child. Maria took part in yo-yo's and marbles.

There was one thing that all of Maria's friends knew and will still remember, and that is that she was a talker. She could pretty much talk to anybody about anything. This quality is one of the primary reasons that Maria was such a popular person throughout her life. But Maria was also dependable, loyal and trustworthy. Maria was the kind of person who simply radiated good fellowship. While she maintained personal standards and her own personal values, Maria was very accepting of others. With a distinct skill for working things out, Maria was often the person who would organize events. In fact, Maria was fairly comfortable playing the role of “host” for just about any occasion. When Maria made friends, she made true and lasting friendships. Later in life, she became friends with Catalina Gomez, Rafael, and Herminia Reynosa.

Maria was a faithful and loving person. Some would even call her sentimental and a romantic at heart. Her kindness and consideration radiated an aura of warmth to those around her. Maria cared for what others thought and carried that into her marriage. On August 14, 1965 Maria married Felix I. Enriquez.

Harmony was important to Maria and she made every effort to maintain it with her family. Maria was blessed with five children, four sons, Mario, Ricardo, Francisco, and Juan, and one daughter, Sylvia. They were also blessed with eleven grandchildren and eight great grandchildren, Art, Mario, Luis, Carol, Roxanne, Richie, Marissa, Lisa, Bell, Cris, Paul, and Briana. Maria was always conscious of the feelings others had. She was reasonable and understanding. As a result, Maria was quick to solve disputes and did so without much fuss. Her secret of success in this area was simple: Maria would listen before she would act.

A methodical woman, Maria enjoyed spending time working on her various hobbies. She had no problem following all of the steps and instructions on a given project and was proud of the fact that she could have something to show for her efforts. Her favorite pursuits were crossword puzzles, word search, knitting, and jig saw puzzles.

Maria was one of those people who took pride in constantly putting forth her best effort. Nowhere was that more visible than in sports. Maria was always enthusiastic and a great team player. Maria also liked being a sports fan and enjoyed following her favorite teams whenever she got the opportunity. Tops on her list were baseball (even though she didn't understand the game).

A generous and compassionate woman, Maria accomplished much during her lifetime. Though she never set out to gain individual recognition, Maria was recognized and given awards for her many and varied efforts throughout her life. Some of her most prestigious awards included Best Mother Award and Best Grandma.

Not only did Maria enjoy traveling, but she also seemed to enjoy planning all of those trips and vacations. She was a facilitator who could easily make up a near perfect schedule of all of the things to do and see. She rarely tired of going back and revisiting her favorite places. Favorite vacations included Puerto Vallarta, Cancun, and Hawaii.

Maria was a lover of animals and cherished her pets. One of her favorites was Mocha, a Chihuahua dog and Delfina, a cockatiel, who was a best friend for; Mocha (6 years) and Delfina (12 years).

Maria passed away on August 8, 2010 at home in Bloomington, California. She is survived by her spouse Felix, five kids, eleven grandkids, and eight great grandkids Services were held at St. Frances of Rome Catholic Church in Azusa, California. Maria was laid to rest in Oakdale Memorial Park in Glendora, California.

Maria was a fantastic conversationalist who could engage just about anyone in a discussion. And whenever she said something, she meant it. Maria was a down to earth person, outgoing and gregarious. She was without question the type of person who enjoyed experiencing things first hand. She was practical and sensible, but what friends and family will remember her for most is the fact that she was so understanding and kind. Everyone whose life she touched will miss Maria De La Luz Enriquez.