Margarita Casillas

Our beloved Nana, Margarita Casillas (87) of Gilroy, CA, was called home on Wednesday, November 29, 2023. Before departing, she was engulfed in love by her family, listened to praise music, was read daily devotionals, and heard God’s word. She was a beautiful and gracious lady who enjoyed spending time with her ever-growing family. She embraced life to the fullest and loved on our friends and made them feel like family. She loved God and read her daily devotional, “Jesus te Llama.” She started and ended her day with God in his word. She loved music. She always had a song in her head as she whistled and hymned in her quite moments or in the car. She always expressed her love to us and gave it generously. She had a heart of servitude. She was an amazing cook and could conjure up a meal in a flash. She always knew when it was her grandchildren’s and great grandchildren’s birthdays. There are simply no words to say how dearly we will miss her, her gentle laugh and beautiful smile.

Nana nos vas a ser mucha falta, tu risa, tu sonrisa y tu persona.

Margarita was born on November 2, 1936, in Veracruz, Mexico, to parents Jose Perez and Piedad Orta. She was married August 11, 1957, in Mexico and later moved to Chicago, Illinois where she started her family of four children with her husband, Carlos Casillas. They later moved to California in December of 1967. She then raised her children in San Jose as a single parent. She was in a foreign country with four small children to support and raise, without speaking the language, without a driver’s license, and was without any of her family members in the U.S. She poured herself into her children which we never went without. She quickly started working, learned to drive, and went to school to learn English and later became a US citizen.

She is leading proof that when there is a will there is a way.

She adored her 4 children, 8 grandchildren, 9 great grandchildren (+1 due in April), and cherished many nieces and nephews. Nana was special to everyone who met her.

Survived by her children Patricia and Rafael Chavez, Sandra and Frank Soria, Carlos and Linda Casillas, Gloria Casillas, her grandchildren Fernando and Lauren Chavez, Yesenia and Sam Orozco, Miguel and Renee Chavez, Gabriela and Albert Ricardez, Milano Casillas, Patricia and Allen Saar, Jasmine and Alissa Casillas and great grandchildren, Elena and Xavier Chavez, Rocky and Benny Orozco, Nicolas and Sofia Chavez, Ezekiel, Teadoro, and Antonio Ricardez and soon to be Luca Saar. And lastly, her sister Guadalupe Perez de Vargas.

She is now accompanied by her baby, Rafael Casillas who departed too early in 2006 at 39.

Please join us immediately after for her Celebration of Life at Rafael and Patricia Chavez home at 1823 Shamrock Ave., Santa Clara, CA 95051.