Our beautiful mother, Margarita, passed away peacefully early morning on February 18, 2021, surrounded by her children, a few of her grandchildren, and great-granddaughter, Camila. She was 94 years old. She was a devout Catholic and very devoted to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and Mary, and the Holy Rosary. Even with her dementia she would pray the Rosary daily and offer prayers for her family.
Daughter of immigrant parents, Apolonio and Sofia Flores, from Salamanca, Guanajuato, Mexico. She was born in Chicago, Illinois on June 21, 1926. Lived in Mexico from the age of 8, because of an unexpected extended vacation, until the age of 19. In Mexico she graduated from a seamstress school and her work became very popular among the ladies in her town.
Margarita, her father, and two brothers, Apolonio ll, and Juan Manuel eventually came back to the United States in 1945 to work and earn money to bring the family back to the states. Her mother, her sisters, Isabel & husband Francisco Lozano, Esther, Lupe, and Mary Lou, stayed in Mexico until they could be brought back to join the family in San Jose. Youngest sister, Rosemary Flores Madero, was later born in San Jose, Ca. When Margarita came to San Jose, she worked at St. Elizabeth’s Day Home. She kept up her skills as a seamstress and even made several wedding gowns for the family, including her own.
Margarita, her father and two brothers, started a family business, La Guadalajara Market & Bakeries, with eventually three locations in San Jose, serving the growing Hispanic community in the late 1950’s.
She was married to Herman Samaniego for 55 years. Their first-born son, Herman Samaniego, Jr., died at 4 months of age. She is survived by four children, Sofi and husband, Raul Ray, Rosi and husband, Jesus Arenas, Herman and wife, Isabel, Carlos and wife, Becky, ten grandchildren, Juan Carlos, Sophia, Jesse Michael, Aly, and Malia Arenas, Raul Jr. and Ileana Ray, Michael-Han & wife Brianna, Chaz, and Skyler Samaniego, great-grandchildren Camila Quinones Arenas, and Weston Samaniego.
She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, sister Isabel Lozano, both brothers Apolonio ll, and Juan Manuel Flores.
Funeral services will begin with viewing on Thursday, March 4, from 12:30-2:30pm at Lima Family Erickson Memorial Chapel, 710 Willow St, San Jose, followed by Rosary at 3pm, at St. Leo’s Church at 88 Race St. in San Jose. Funeral mass to be held on Friday, March 5, at 11 am at St. Leo’s Church, followed by a private burial at Santa Clara Mission Cemetery. In accordance with Santa Clara County ordinance, mask-wearing and social distancing will be observed.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.LimaFamilyEricksonMemorial.com for the Samaniego family.
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