Theresa A Cortez

Our beautiful mother, Theresa Aileen Cortez passed away on November 3rd, 2016 at Pomona Valley Hospital from difficulties following a brief illness. Mom was born October 13th, 1928, to John and Sadie Pierce in Montesano, Washington.

When mom was a young girl, the family relocated to the Gardena area and then to the Chino Valley. There she met her future husband of nearly 60 years, Joy Cortez. They married September 14th, 1945 and went on to raise a family of six children; Brenda Sierdsma, Joy Jr., John, Linda Huston, Shirley Vander Schaaf and Paul. She was a proud Grandmother to 17 grandchildren and 30 great-grand- children. She was also mom to her two precious Pomeranians, The Big One and The Little One, aka Darla and Grace. She also leaves many nieces, nephews and friends and was known to many as "Grandma Cortez." Mom also leaves her siblings John Pierce Jr. and Betty Jo Garrison. Our Dad, their infant son Adrian, her parents, sister Marjorie DeWilde and daughter-in-law Mary (Joy Jr.) preceded her in death.

Mom was a half owner of several apartment complexes and successfully ran them for over thirty years. Mom also enjoyed a number of activities including antiquing, crocheting, gambling, raising and selling Pomeranian dogs, reading, teas and traveling to name a few. Mom was known to enjoy an occasional margarita!

Visitation will be held on Friday, November 11th from 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. followed by a memorial, Saturday at 10:30 a.m. at Draper Mortuary, Ontario. Burial will follow at Bellevue Memorial Park, Ontario.