On June 5, 2020, Josefina Balderrama, our beautiful mom, went home to be with our Lord Jesus Christ. After a short but courageous battle with cancer, Josefina passed away peacefully at home surrounded by her children.
Josefina was born in Chihuahua, Chihuahua, Mexico on August 15, 1937, to José and Herlinda López, where her parents owned and operated a dairy. She attended school through junior college and learned the importance of education that she would later instill in her children. She met Sebastián, the love of her life, and they married (actually, they eloped) on December 17, 1956. After living in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, they moved to Ojai and then Camarillo in 1964, to make a better life for their family. They had eight children in whom they instilled the importance of higher education and hard work. She served on the local PTA for Pleasant Valley Elementary School in the late 1970s. In the early years while living in Camarillo, Josefina cooked “menudo” for the Camarillo fiestas, made tamales to raise funds for the Guadalupanos, and other church groups. She served as an usher at St. Mary Magdalen Catholic Church for over 25 years. After raising her children, she worked as a housekeeper, and in some instances became lifelong friends with her clients. She unselfishly cared for her late husband Sebastián during his long illness until his death in 2007.
Later in life, she enjoyed traveling, including spending summers in Mexico, vacationing in Italy, Spain, Portugal, Israel, Canada, Alaska and many other places. She enjoyed spending every New Year’s Eve with her brother Felipe and his family in Mira Loma, California. She enjoyed her many friends, both young and old, who she met at church, the “licuado,” hair and nail salons, or around town. Running errands in Camarillo with her would always take a little longer because she would undoubtedly see someone she knew and stop to greet them. She enjoyed morning walks, gardening, hummingbirds and butterflies, visiting the sick, prayer groups, and most of all, spending time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Even up until her last moments of life, she would greet them with her beautiful smile and a twinkle in her eye.
Our beautiful mother Josefina gave us the gift of life. She gave us the gift of faith that we may believe in God. She gave us the gift of hope that resides in our hearts. She gave us the gift of laughter that we enjoyed with her until the very end of her life. She gave us the gift of joy by teaching us to just be happy. She gave us the gift of hard work that has made us persevere. She gave us the gift of family unity, that binds her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren for almost weekly family get togethers. She gave us the gift of gratitude that we will always appreciate. She gave us the gift of compassion to help our neighbors. Most of all she gave us the unconditional gift of motherly love. We are eternally grateful to God for her blessings.
She is survived by her eight loving children, their spouses, grandchildren and great-grandchildren: daughter Lucy Balderrama-Ramirez (husband José), grandson Cesar Ramirez (wife Yvette) and great-grandchildren Penélope and Benjamin Ramirez, granddaughter Bianca Ramirez-Parra (husband Luis) and great-grandchildren Sebastián, Santiago and Italia Parra; son Sergio Balderrama and grandchildren Benjamin (Benny) and Amanda Balderrama; son Enrique Balderrama (wife Gracie), grandson Luis Balderrama and great-grandsons Caleb and Levy Balderrama, granddaughter Andriana Balderrama and great-granddaughter Alessandra Balderrama, and grandson Miguel Balderrama; son Eduardo (Lalo) Balderrama and grandson Nicolas (Nico) Balderrama; daughter Manuela Olivia (Nellie) Balderrama-Sagles (husband Marvin), granddaughters Isabella (Bella) and Victoria (Tori) Sagles, granddaughter Briana Lowhing (husband Ken), great-granddaughter Olivia Valentina (Oli) Lowhing; daughter Bellinda Balderrama-Moreno (husband Hector), grandsons Esteban and Marko Moreno; daughter Mónica Balderrama (husband Max Raymundo), grandson Josh Raymundo; daughter Josie Balderrama and grandchildren Lorenzo, Alonzo and Xasha Francisco; and brother Felipe Lopez (wife Micaela) and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews.
She is preceded in death by her husband Sebastián, mother Herlinda, father José, and sister Elva.
Visitation and rosary will be on Sunday, June 14, 2020, from 1-5 pm, with the rosary commencing at 4 pm. The visitation and rosary will take place at Conejo Mountain Funeral Home & Memorial Park, located at 2052 Howard Rd., Camarillo, CA (805) 482-1959. The funeral mass will be celebrated on Monday, June 15, 2020, 10 am, at St. Mary Magdalen Church, located at 25 Las Posas Rd., Camarillo. (Due to Covid-19 protocols, the number of guests in the church will be limited and masks are mandatory.) Burial will immediately follow at Conejo Mountain Funeral Home (same address).