Virginia Estrada

Virginia Mary Lopez Estrada born November 29 1926 died July 1 2021 Virginia passed away at Golden Hearts Residential Facility in  Bakersfield. Our family appreciates the care and kindness their staff showed for our mom .  Her daughter Nancy Garza was her caregiver over the years and because of Nancy,  mom was able to stay in her home where she was born.  Virginia loved her home very much.  Most days, you could find her out back just sitting or watering her many plants, or painting  the house inside and out always seeing the color white doing laundry daily . Her beloved son  Daniel was always by her side.  The most distinctive thing about my mom was her cooking.  You could smell the fragrance and her love for people before you reached her gate. You never  left her home with an empty stomach or hands, they would be filled with her famous persimmon cookies or homemade tortillas.  Virginia raised 5 children  Judith Ann Ermigarat of Paso Robles,  Edward Estrada of San Diego, Nancy Marie Garza, Cecilia Castellon and of course her beloved Daniel Estrada who passed April 2, 2021. Mom not only raised us five,  but cared for many neighborhood children as well.   There was always an extra child or two in our home.  Mom was strict but fair, we all got the same spanking. Virginia never learned  to drive a car.  Mom would walk everywhere occasionally taking the bus.  She was convinced that this contributed  to her good health.

Virginia was preceded in death by her parents James and Valentina Lopez, brothers;  James and Lawrence Lopez,  sisters;  Annie Perez,  Helen Campbell,  and Juanita Soto and of course her son Daniel Estrada. Her brother Ralph Lopez,  98 years young,  is still kicking and going strong. Mom was blessed with a long and blessed life.  She will be missed by her family many friends,  her grandchildren,  and great grandchildren.   To know her was to love her.   No influence is so powerful as that of a mother's love.  Love begins and ends there.