Ofelia K. Ortiz

Ofelia Kadena Ortiz was born in Chihuahua, Chihuahua, Mexico on July 3, 1932, and passed away on July 13, 2018, at the home of her youngest daughter in Temecula, California. She was 86 years old.

Ofelia was a devoted wife, loving mother, and beloved grandmother and great-grandmother. She was the youngest of three daughters and followed her sister, Martha, to the United States, while the eldest sister, Cecilia, remained in Chihuahua, Mexico. Ofelia first moved to Californias Central Valley with her husband, Rudy, and their four oldest children: Ana, Ofelia, Rudy Jr., and Martha. Eventually the family moved to Downey, in Southern California, where Barbara was born, before finally settling in La Mirada, where Omar was born. She was a stay-at-home mother who took great pride in her home and in her role as a homemaker. Her home was always filled with the sounds of music, singing and laughter; the smells of freshly baked panecitos, handmade tortillas, and home-cooked meals. Ofelia was a warm and affectionate woman with a welcoming and compassionate heart. That same grace eventually served her well when she took a job as an after-school care program supervisor. Ofelia was a life-long learner who loved to read for both knowledge and pleasure. Despite being a religious woman who relied deeply on her belief in God, she was inquisitive, insatiably curious, and was never afraid to look for answers outside of her faith. She had a lust for life and never passed on a reason for a party. Her unwavering spirit and faith led her through her a previous battle with breast cancer, and served as an example of enduring strength and resolve. Unfortunately, a second battle with stomach cancer proved to be too much. While surrounded by her surviving five children, Ofelia peacefully passed away.

Ofelia leaves behind an enduring legacy, sustained by her five children, Ana (Jeffrey) Horigan, Rudy (Reina) Ortiz, Martha (Billy) Collard, Barbara (Steve) Morales, and Omar (TL) Ortiz; sisters, Cecilia Batista and Martha Baron; 13 grandchildren; Adriana (Jason), Juliana (Wes), Luci, Joseph (Marisa), Angie, Rudy (Summer), Aimee, Regan, Madison, Marin, Cade, Nathan, and Camille; and 14 great-grandchildren; Aviana, Milana, Nyana, Emerson, Grayson, Teagan, Raymond, Cruz, Avrie, Remi, Jack, Marita, Judah, and Wade. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband of 62 years, Rudy M. Ortiz, and daughter, Ofelia Ortiz.