Mary Luna

Mary Luna was born in Del Rio, Texas as Maria Cancino on June 17, 1926. Her parents were Refugio De La Rosa and Jesus Cancino. She had an elder sister, Francisca Cancino, and a younger brother, Jesus Cancino. She lived with her family on a small farm outside of town, close to an extended family of Aunts, Uncles and cousins. Growing up on a farm during the depression of the 30s, she and her family did not lack a steady food supply that so many others did during that time. She attended school and graduated from San Felipe High School in Del Rio.

Soon after she graduated she, along with her mother, sister and brother, moved to Los Angeles in 1943. It was reported that there were great opportunities in California and even though they knew no one there and had no place to live, they made the move. They were taken in by a kind stranger who put them up in their home until they could obtain jobs and a place of their own.

Mary worked as a secretary for an insurance firm and upon receiving her first paycheck promptly went out and spent it. When she returned home, happy with her purchases, her mother asked where her paycheck was. When she replied that she had spent it, her mother told her that she must contribute to the household as her sister was doing. That they must all contribute to make sure they could all have food and a roof over their head. That was my mom's first lesson on responsibility to her family. A trait she was to pass on to her children over the years. Family and home first, then yourself.

She met her husband, Gilberto Luna at a dance and they soon married in 1948. There first child, Cecilia was born in 1949. They lived in different locations in Los Angeles until 1956. During that time Mary had three more children, Mary Ann in 1950, Armando in 1952 and Cynthia in 1954. Mary, her husband and children moved to the town of Buena Park in Orange county in 1956 where her son, Gilbert was born, and three more children were soon to arrive: Michael in 1958, David in 1960 and Liza, with a Z, in 1961. We thought at the time that Liza was the last so she was treated as the baby of the family until five years later when my mom surprised us all with our baby sister, Linda Sue in 1966.

My mom had a full time job as homemaker and mother to her nine children. Our home in Buena Park became the center of the neighbor, but my mom took it all in stride. She washed, cleaned, cook, fixed our boo-boos and taught us how to look out for each other while teaching us all how to clean and cook. She had to…she needed the help to make sure we all had clean clothes, something to eat and a somewhat clean room. It was hard to keep a three bedroom, 1 bath house clean and neat. She protected us as best as she could from an abusive father who was overwhelmed to be the breadwinner and father of nine. We were poor, but my mom could sew clothes and redo the hand me downs to make due for the younger children. She could stretch a pound of ground beef and a chicken to feed us all. We learned how to make sure everyone had their share. When we had chicken it was one meaty piece and one boney piece. She taught us all how important it was to help out in any way we could. The lesson she learned as a young woman she was now passing on to us.

After many years of struggling through problems with my father, my mother decided that the only way out was to leave my dad and take us all with her. That was pretty gusty for a woman that faced immense uncertainties and had nine children depending on her. My mother's courage, strength, and devotion to her children paved the way to brighter futures. Even though it was a hard road traveled she trusted God to provide for them, like when she got into a car accident that caused her to lose a finger and part of another, and the county found her a job where she worked her way to supervisor. She loved her job and served the county for 25 years. Through her guiding examples of determination, humility, and grace in the face of adversity, she shared her strength, her faith, her love and her compassion with her children, which are gifts she has passed down through the generations of her entire family that shine in us all.

My mom was further blessed in this life with the births of 12 grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren, and a plethora of nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews, and children/grandchildren-in-love, all of whom were very dear to her heart in their own unique way, all of whom loved and cherished her immensely. With each new addition to her great family, a new life to bring her great joy…a new soul to be touched by her love and kindness. She may have seemed tough on us at times, but only because she cared for us so much that she pushed us all to be the people she knew we were capable of being.

To many, it may have appeared that my mother lived a hard life…growing up during the depression, raising 9 children almost entirely on her own, and sadly, enduring the unimaginable loss of her beloved daughters, Cynthia and Lynda, far before their time…but the reality is that my mother lived a blessed, long, and ultimately, happy life. Her faith and her devotion to God and family, shaped the woman she was and the lovely life she lived. Known and loved by so many family and friends, memories of her and the woman she was will be cherished, preserved, and shared for generations to come. A beautiful lady, with a beautiful heart!

Arrangements under the direction of Funeraria del Angel Anaheim, Anaheim, CA.