Irene M. Ruiz

She is survived by her loving husband, Jarvis Ruiz, and together they shared a life for 59 years. Irene was born on March 18, 1942, in Santa Paula, California, at home on Harvard Boulevard. She was almost three weeks from celebrating her 79th birthday.

Irene grew up in Santa Paula and graduated from Santa Paula Union High School. Although she had no siblings, she lived as if in a much larger family: loving grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends were in constant, boisterous rotation in her childhood home, a generous atmosphere that she relished and nurtured throughout her life. In every home she lived, from California to Arizona to Kentucky, she kept an open door for coffee, empanadas, and welcoming warmth.

Irene worked actively as a Girl Scout troop leader, playground monitor, and classroom aid for her children; she was a fiercely loyal band mom, traveling throughout Southern California to spectate from the bleachers, cheering her son’s high school band parades and competitions. She tended a flourishing garden whose cuttings she shared freely with anyone interested in her numerous plumerias, geraniums, or succulents. Irene was a versatile domestic artist—family, friends, and lucky strangers throughout her life were blessed with baked, stitched, knitted, crocheted, painted, and cultivated gifts crafted lovingly by Irene’s warm hands and capable fingers.

Irene loved to travel. Growing up, she enjoyed family campouts and reunions to places like Shaver Lake and Three Rivers, and she loved road-trips throughout the United States with Jarvis, her children, and extended family. Irene loved spreading a clean cloth on her campsite picnic table, ready for company; frying bacon over a Coleman stove outside of her tent trailer; settling in front of the campfire with coffee and Mexican bread. One of her happiest perches was inside a snug vehicle, in the passenger seat alongside Jarvis as she crossed off mile markers on a colorful AAA map, headed to someplace they’d never seen, looking for the perfect spot for eggs and papas along the way.

Irene delighted in her four children: Theresa Ruiz, Alice (Mark) Tulin, Rebecca (Reza) Jenab, and John (fiancée Krista Bonney) Ruiz. Irene was blessed with three grandchildren: Diego Jenab, Mina Jenab, and Scarlett Ruiz. “Gramma Reenie” heartily applauded their accomplishments, from poster-paint handprints to Lego creations, treating each as a wondrous achievement.

Services will be private because of current Coronavirus restrictions, but Irene’s family will host a celebration of life later this year. Irene’s ashes will rest at Pierce Brothers Santa Paula Cemetery, Santa Paula. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations be made to CHOC Children’s Hospital (choc.org) or to your favorite charity, with thoughts of Irene.