Perla R Medina

Perla R. Medina was born on October 4th, 1934 in the town of Santiago-Ixcuintla, in the State of Nayarit, Mexico. Her Mother was Catalina Partida Rojas and her Father was Rosendo Rojas. Her Brothers were Raul and Manlio and her Sister was Ester.

She enjoyed dancing to traditional music of Mexico such as “Romanticas” and Caribbean Mambo and Salsa among other music of her time. Through a mutual friend, she was introduced to her future husband Emilio Medina who was in the Mexican Navy at the time. They corresponded and met and dated around the late 50s/early 60s.

They were married in 1963. They moved to Tijuana, Mexico around 1964 and on January, 28th 1965, she gave birth to her first child, daughter, Elba Medina. On July, 18th, 1966, she then gave birth to her son Jose Gerardo Medina, Finally on January, 27th, 1969, she gave birth to her son Emilio Medina (Jr). in her time in Tijuana, she worked for an immigration attorney as a secretary/receptionist. She also had experience as a sternographer, and also taught sewing, and dressmaking.

In 1969, with her husband obtaining work at the San Diego canneries at the time, she and her family moved to National City CA, where they since maintained the same residence for 50 years. It was a major move for the family. To a new country, language and culture. As her husband made a living at the canneries, Mrs. Medina quickly mastered English and in the mid 70s worked for the National School District with the implementation of the (then) early Bilingual Program.

In 1984, she obtained her GED from the Sweetwater Adult School, and then her AA in computer literacy/proficiency at Southwestern College. The AA allowed her to work for the Sweetwater High School District as a Computer Lab Facilitator from late 1984 until 2001 at the Sweetwater high and Chula Vista High schools.

Around 1999, Perla Medina, now in her mid 60s, joined the Casa De Salud and then the Kimball Senior Center Clubs and volunteered her time as Treasurer. She would continue in this capacity until her passing this year. She gave over twenty years of service organizing the clubs finances with accuracy and efficiency. She would receive at least two certificates of recognition for her service by the National City Council in July of both 2018 and 2019.

She was also a homemaker and enjoyed making clothing, knitting, and gardening. She enjoyed visiting family in Mexico. In the 2000s She took advantage of senior citizen discounts and group travel discounts to travel the world. She enjoyed cities such as Paris, Vienna, Beijing and Buenos Aires and countries such as Italy, Canada England, Spain, and Chile. Visits to the rest of the United States also happened, seeing Landmarks such as Mt Rushmore, Niagra Falls, Seattle Washington’s Puget Sound, San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge, New York City, Yosemite and Yellowstone National Park.

She became widowed in June 2001, and that same year on October 31st, she saw the birth of Danielle her first Granddaughter. On August 27th of 2004 she enjoyed the blessing of knowing the birth of her second Granddaughter, Isabella. As with her own children, she would love and cherish them with all the love and wisdom she could give from within her heart and her soul. She was 84 years old. She will be loved and remembered always by those that knew and loved her as well.