Jose Mares Aranda

Jose Mares Aranda was a man for whom actions would speak louder than words. His life motto might well have been “if it isn’t logical, it’s not important.” The qualities of being fair, just and the ability to recognize what was right were clearly driving forces in Jose’s life. He was also the kind of person who could respect a “do not disturb” sign, whether it was real or implied. He was analytical and observant, with an ability to be simultaneously spontaneous and keenly perceptive. Jose was modest in his actions and extremely literal in his thoughts and in the manner in which he communicated with others. When Jose said something, he meant it. All those who knew him appreciated this trademark quality.

Jose was born on August 18, 1934 at home in Cuidad Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico. His parents were TeoFilo and Catalina Aranda. Jose was raised in Cuidad Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico. Even as a small child, Jose wanted to understand what was right and what was wrong in any given situation. As Jose grew older, he realized the importance of being treated fairly, and in return, he treated everyone around him the same way. This belief in fair play served Jose well throughout his life and despite his natural shyness; he enjoyed a solid group of friends.

Since Jose sought to treat those around him with respect, he often found himself in the role of playing peacemaker within his family. He was comfortable in working through the types of sibling rivalry situations that quite often occur, because he loved the challenge of conflict resolution. He would look at the most reasonable and practical ways to settle any disputes. Jose was raised with seven siblings. He had three brothers, Seferino, Marcelo and Gilbert, and four sisters, Juana, Nena, Rosa and Ofelia. Jose was constantly involved in activities with his siblings. Jose and his siblings had the typical rivalries while growing up, but they shared many life experiences.

Those who didn’t know Jose well might have thought him to be objective and somewhat emotionally detached, but family and friends who were close to him knew that he was capable of unexpected flashes of humor. Jose’s good friends tended to be “thinkers” like himself. Even though the circle of friends was somewhat small, it was a strong and loyal group, and Jose liked nothing better than to spend his free time with them. Jose was well known for always being up front and open, never hiding his true feelings, qualities that drew deep loyalty from his friends because they understood and appreciated him for the person he was. Another quality that people admired in Jose was his ability to link cause and effect and apply the appropriate connection in his assessment of any new situation. Later in life, he became friends with Philipe and Maria Corral.

This same loyalty and up front honesty Jose shared with his friends carried over to other aspects of his life, including his relationships with his family. On May 3, 1954, Jose married his wife at the courthouse in Cuidad Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico. He was a great listener who enjoyed the couple’s “together” time, especially when it came to celebrating special occasions.

As the family grew, Jose was easily able to adapt to the changes and challenges of parenthood. Jose was blessed with seven children, five sons, Jose, Abraham, Israel, Eli and Daniel, and two daughters, Raquel and Miriam. He was also blessed with twenty-four grandchildren, Matthew, Trisha, Robert, Charlene, Abraham, Adeline, Rachel, Katherine, Michelle, Roxanne, April, Daniel, Christina, Joshua, Lisa, Samantha, Jacklyn, Jose, Ruben, Israel, Joshua, Aaron, Thomas and Timothy. Jose was never impulsive in dealing with family problems. Instead, he would carefully think things through before implementing the solution in a logical and objective manner. Jose was a strong, clear communicator who excelled at eliminating confusion by making matters crystal clear to all those involved. At the same time, Jose’s inventive nature could turn some of the boring old household chores into a fun activity for the family.

In his work life, Jose was the kind of person who had no difficulty in taking on a project and seeing it through to its completion. He excelled at dealing with those pesky details that can derail some people, and once he understood exactly why he was working on a project, he could plow full steam ahead. For Jose, being able to grasp the logical components of any task was significant to him in appreciating its importance. Even if he worked alone on an assignment, Jose was able to incorporate and welcome new insights from co-workers, and he would readily use them if they improved the process. His primary occupation was as a mechanic. He was employed for General Motors for 20 years. Jose always made the effort to be a team player, doing what was necessary in order to get the job done.

Jose had the ability to stay calm and the determination to do what was necessary to get the job finished, traits that helped him enjoy sports. Jose was also something of a sports fan and enjoyed following his favorite events whenever he got the opportunity. Tops on his list were boxing.

Religion and faith were important to Jose. He held dear the faith and values he derived from his beliefs. He was a member of the Church of God (7th day) for 55 years. During that time, he was a member that dedicated himself to saving souls and spreading the good news.

Jose was a lover of animals and cherished his pets. One of Jose’s favorites was Snoopy, a Cocker Spaniel. They were best friends for 10 years. His family was rounded out by his dogs.

As his retirement approached, Jose viewed the event as just one more project to research and solve. So, when the day finally arrived in 1977, he was well prepared.

Jose passed away on May 22, 2012 at his daughter's home in San Jose, California due to Renal failure. He is survived by his children Jose, Abraham, Israel, Eli, Daniel, Raquel, and Miriam; and his twenty-four grandchildren. Services were held at Oak Hill Funeral Home in San Jose, California. Jose was laid to rest in Oak Hill Memorial Park in San Jose, California.

Jose strongly believed that talk is cheap. He was the type of person who would show others his feelings through his actions. He was practical and realistic but was able to be flexible when the need arose. He had a curiosity about the things around him and tried to experience life directly rather than sit back and talk about it. The experiences he treasured most were those he shared with his loved ones. Jose Mares Aranda will be greatly missed.