Socorro Sierra

Born, April 29, 1941 in the state of Guanajuato, Mexico – Died, May 15, 2015 in Los Angeles, California

Parents: Julian del Sagrado Corazon de Jesus Lopez Delgado and Maria Mercedes Leon Saucedo de Lopez.

Spouse: Mateo Sierra Rodriguez (m: December 1959 – death: June 4, 1998)

Siblings: Asencion, Santos, Benito, Valentin, Raul and Maria Guadalupe Lopez Leon.

Children: Serafin, Ruben, Carmen, Maria De La Luz, Salvador (deceased in infancy), and Miguel Angel Sierra Lopez.

Grandchildren: Richard and Alejandro Sierra, Louis Andrew and Michael Ayala,

Diana Krystine and Naomi Kassandra Perez, Rebecca Gabrielle and Frances Amber Sierra, Daisy Marie and Vanessa Ixtel Sierra, Daniel Ruben and Julian Marcos Sierra.

Great grandson: Richard Mateo Armenta Sierra

Our mother was born Maria Socorro Lopez Leon and raised modestly in her birthplace of Guanajuato, Mexico. She remembered her childhood as a happy upbringing because her family was a close-knit family, considerate, kind hearted, and extremely hard working. Although, her parents were very strict (which was common for that place) they tried to compensate by spoiling their children once in a while, giving them toys, sweets, and taking them to different parts of their home town to visit. Also, providing their children an innocent way of living, keeping them safe and giving them good examples. She remembers loving to go to church, crocheting, singing with her mother, and playing with her siblings, cousins, and friends. When she became a teenager she met and married our father at the age of eighteen. She frequently expressed her love of God, family, parents, and being grateful of having the capability to work. She had a strong desire for her family to continue with their religious faith, family principles, and tradition. She devoted herself selflessly to her family and home. In addition, she always displayed strong work ethic, consideration of others feelings, and a keen positive approach in life.

Being the extraordinary person that she was, she and our father, raised us five children with limited resources. Soon after our parents were married, they had their first child, and a year later their second child was born. Together with our father (both seeking a better family life), they decided to move north to Mexicali, Mexico. Once there she gave birth to two daughters. Our parents perceived that they would have a better life in the United States, and made a plan to continue to travel north, and settled in Baja California, Mexico. There they purchased some land and constructed a small home, and their fifth child was born. Unfortunately, the baby only survived briefly and died when he was three months old. Our mother always described the loss of her baby as the most painful event in her heart, although she believed that he was in a better place with God, she still grieved his death.

Unwilling to give up their dream of reaching the United States, our father traveled by himself to the U.S. with the goal to soon petition for our mother and the family to the U.S. Once reunited with our father in the U.S., our mother gave birth to her sixth and last child. Considering that the couple had five children to raise, our mother extended herself and worked outside the home to help support the family. Believing that our family would benefit with a two income, she continue to support our father many years by working and bringing home the extra income. Also, continued with her household duties of wife, mother, cook, and housekeeper to ensure that our family had a better future. Although, she had a heavy workload and an enormous amount of responsibilities, she made the best of it and encourage us to have strong work ethic, learn good things, always strive to become valuable adults, and most importantly be grateful to God for everything we achieved.

Grandchildren where uniquely special in my mother’s heart, she cared for many of her grandchildren when they were growing up. She frequently stated that she hoped that she would have had the opportunity to have shared more special moments with us as children. Consequently, taking the time to care and dedicate time to her grandkids with all the love, patience, and devotion that only a valuable grandmother has the ability to give. She is loved, cherished, and missed by all her grandchildren and great grandson.

As a devoted Roman Catholic, our mother believed that death was not the end, but the beginning and that eternal life is received by grace through faith. Following her faith and her heart, she demonstrated that her place was with our father and us children, she provided support and cared for our ill father until his death in 1998. Always inspired by her sincere love and compassion, she cared for her parents when they were no longer able to take care of themselves. Her strong work attributes and sincere love of helping the community, compelled her to continue to assist many elderly by becoming a home health care giver, providing them with not only general assistance, but also spiritual support and companionship that the elderly yearned for.

For all her devotions and selfless acts to her family and the community, our mother is sincerely loved, honored, and highly admired by many. She was an exemplary woman who positively affected people’s lives and innocently became a true inspiration to carry out family values.

In December of 2006 our mother was involved in an automobile accident that left her temporarily bedridden. Soon after that she was diagnosed with her ailment. She battled with the disease until her death in May 15, 2015. She took her last breath at home in Los Angeles, California. Our mother rests besides our father at The Calvary Cemetery in Los Angeles, California.

Rest in Peace beloved mother you will live forever in our hearts