Maria de Jesus Loredo

Maria Loredo was born in a small town called El Aguacate in Rio Verde, San Luis Potosí, Mexico where she grew up on a ranch working alongside her mother and father. Maria loved the outdoors and spent time tending to their animals, including: goats, sheep, cows, and chickens. When reminiscing, Maria would light up telling stories of her two faithful dogs who would always be by her side, the lilies that grew on the hills, and the fact that she could wrangle any animal with her trusty lasso (making sure to state that she had the best lasso skills of all her cousins).

Eventually, Maria would travel to Texas and pick cotton in the fields with her father. While in Texas, she met her husband, Gregorio Moreno Loredo, bragging that she could pick cotton faster than him. The couple would marry in Monterrey, Mexico and have their first son, Canuto in Texas. Maria would return to Monterrey, Mexico living with her parents and raising their son, until they left Mexico via a greyhound bus and joined Gregorio to settle in Santa Monica, California. Her family grew thereafter with births of daughter Guadalupe, and sons Jose Gregorio, Felix Antonio and Ruben. In Santa Monica, Maria developed a network of close friends that became family and was well-loved by all who had the pleasure of knowing her.

In her later years, Maria was able to travel throughout the US, Mexico, and Europe with her children, never hesitating and eager to join in any activities presented to her. She also participated in senior center field trips that consisted of playing games, sharing stories, laughing, and appreciating a good cup of coffee with her many friends. At home, she kept busy taking care of her plants and pets, her beloved parakeets and cockatiel. Maria’s Sundays, without fail, were spent walking and catching the Big Blue Bus to attend Sunday mass.

At the age of 94, Maria moved to Tucson, Arizona where the landscape reminded her of her beloved El Aguacate. Maria relished the warm weather, strolled through the desert, and delighted in viewing the Arizona sunsets, monsoons, and cloud formations. Maria spent her mornings savoring a cup of coffee with her son-in-law, Alex.

Maria was a humble, kind, and loving mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother who was always there for her family, sacrificing willingly to help in any way. Her greatest love was her family and her happiness was having her family together. She always had an abundance of advice and “dichos” to share for any occasion, and provided guidance to family facing difficulties. She enjoyed crocheting and sharing her creative pieces while singing along to the ranchera duo, Las Jilguerillas. Her simple but tasty homemade tortillas were special treats that family members patiently stood by and reached for fresh off the comal. From her youth on the ranch to her final days, Maria always exuberated a youthful, brave, and fiercely independent spirit throughout her life. Though it was rare for Maria to smile in pictures, in life she was always laughing, no one could match her sense of humor and quick wit.

She is preceded in death by her parents Pedro Gonzalez and Césarea Dón, sisters Angela Chavira and Anselma, husband Gregorio Loredo, and daughter-in-law Julia Loredo.

Maria is survived by her brother: Juan Antonio Gonzalez Don; 5 children: Cano, Lupe, Joe, Felix, and Ruben; 9 grandchildren: Michelle, Julie, Danny, Tiane, Valerie, Ruben Jr., Gabriel, Priscilla, and Andrea; and 12 great-grandchildren: Alyanna, Kainalu, Sophia, Damien, Robert, Lily, Dominik, Isaak, Ezekiel, Ruben III, Lucas, and Juliana.

The family would like to thank Mari Martinez, Maria’s caregiver in Santa Monica for her endless dedication, and for lovingly treating Maria as her own mother. Additionally, the family would like to thank Lupe Loredo and Alex Ybanez for their assistance and support to Maria in her final years and for dedicating a portion of their lives to the woman we all loved.

Family and Friends are invited to attend a Memorial Service on Saturday, December 3, 2022 at St. Anne Catholic Church (2011 Colorado Ave, Santa Monica, CA 90404)

● 9am - Visitation

● 9:30am - Rosary

● 10am - Memorial Mass

Burial will be at Holy Cross Cemetery (5835 W Slauson Ave, Culver City, CA 90230)

Reception to follow. (Reception will be outdoors).