Josefina Valencia

Josefina Molina Valencia, a woman of deep and abiding faith in God, dedicated herself to her family until she died in the afternoon of Thursday, January 24th, at the age of 83 at Kindred Hospital in Gardena, CA. She passed due to complications of advanced Parkinson’s disease. She is survived by her five children – Herminia Valencia, Gladys Valencia, Rita Andrade, Carlos D. Valencia, and Virginia Harris – as well as her nine grandsons and ten great grandchildren.

A wake was held for her on Sunday, January 27th at the Del Angel Funeral home in Bell, CA. The funeral mass was celebrated on Monday, January 28th at St. Catherine Labouré Catholic Church in Torrance, CA. The burial was on Wednesday, January 30th at Holy Cross Cemetery in Culver City, CA., alongside her late husband, Gerardo Valencia.

Josefina was born on May 19th, 1929 in Palmira, Colombia, to Daniel Torres Hamann and Amelia Molina. In December 1948, she married Gerardo Valencia. After seventeen years of marriage and hoping to create new opportunities for her family, she migrated to New York City, initially by herself, but shortly followed by her husband and five children. They settled in Jackson Heights, Queens, NY, where Josefina established a 17-year career as a clothing designer for Rio Blouse Inc.

In October of 1982, part of the family moved to the West Coast of the United States, settling in Redondo Beach, CA., where husband and wife enjoyed their retirement years. Gerardo died in November 1987 at the age of 67.

After eight decades spanning two centuries, Josefina Valencia left a legacy of great faith and great generosity to family, friends and strangers. Her abiding love and her life lessons remain with us.

- Bradley Harris, grandson