Maria Elena Tamayo

Maria Elena Rios Tamayo, “Mary”, 73, passed away peacefully and surrounded by loving friends and family on October 20, 2016, at her home in Chula Vista, California, due to complications of Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis. She was born in Abasolo, Guanajuato, Mexico, on October 27, 1942, the third child born to Leovigildo and Josefina (Castro) Rios. Mary was one of 11 children, Lucila, Leonila (deceased), Margarita, Josefina, Juan (deceased), Maria Eugenia “Yaya” (deceased), Francisco, Rodolfo, Laura, and Rebecca.

Mary grew up in her beloved “rancho”, Ojos de Agua, and left with her father and siblings at age 14 to settle in Tijuana, Baja California, as the family prepared to legally immigrate to the United States. She attended the Catholic school “Colegio Mexico”, completing “preparatoria” and a secretarial school known as “comercio”. The family came to the United States in 1962, settling in San Ysidro, California, until 1964 when the family purchased a home together in Chula Vista, California in the Harborside area.

Mary began working for Paul and Sons market in 1965. It was through her work there that she met the love of her life, Hector Jesus Tamayo, one of the owners of the business. They were married April 30, 1966 and were together 45 years, before Hector’s passing on April 22, 2011. Their love was special, Hector called her “mi reina”, my queen, and they had a true love most never find. Together they raised their four children, Christina, Theresa, Hector Jr. and John Paul. She was “Nana” to their four grandchildren, Francesca, Zachary, Peter and Catherine. They spent many Tuesdays with Nana for “Taco Tuesday” and enjoyed time with their grandparents enjoying Nana’s delicious cooking as Nana was “a good cooker”. The grandchildren have special memories of “Tata Claus” Christmases where Mary and Hector created fabulous Christmas memories for the kids, that always started out with Mary’s delicious tamale breakfast. Mary and Hector enjoyed their time with their grandchildren, most especially giving them a special gift of their 2006 trip to Canada and cruise of Alaska.

Mary and Hector worked alongside each other for many years, working to build Paul and Sons Market to become Otay Farms, the first Mexican market in Chula Vista. Mary enjoyed hard work and continued working at Otay Farms almost to the end. John Edward Rittenhouse, who Mary lovingly called her “white son”, was very special to her, and was instrumental in carrying on the business.

Mary was a member of St. Pius X Catholic Church since 1982 and was one of many who were instrumental in bringing the Spanish mass to the church. She was a devout Catholic and participated in two very special prayer meeting groups for many years, the Tuesday group at St Pius X and the Thursday group at Church of the Most Precious Blood. Mary, along with many members of the St. Pius X prayer group, participated in the Sunday Mexican breakfast fundraisers for many years. She also lovingly served the Lord as a lector and Eucharistic Minister.

Many loved ones were recipients of Mary’s crocheted blankets throughout the years. She enjoyed making them for new babies and she poured hours of love into crocheting them. Mary was special to many family and friends and many nieces and nephews considered her like their Nana too. Mary also hosted many of her nieces that lived with the family throughout the years: Chavela, Lucha, Silvia, Mini, Maga, and Lupe.

Mary returned to “the rancho”, Ojos de Agua, many times after leaving there in 1956. She and Hector, along with their children, made many trips throughout the years, it was always a special place to her. After her father’s death in 1989, Mary lovingly restored her childhood home and made many trips there with Hector, and later on her own after his death. The family made a very special trip to Ojos de Agua at Mexico’s bicentennial celebration in 2010 with the entire family including all her children and grandchildren, Hector said on that trip that they were “making memories”, and they certainly were. Mary was very loved and admired by many family and friends of Ojos de Agua for never forgetting her beloved rancho. Mary gave back to the community for many years, including special celebrations for the children of Ojos de Agua. Mary’s last trip to Ojos de Agua was in December 2014, attending the Fiesta de Nuestra Senora de Guadalupe, a yearly festivity. Mary realized she would never be able to return to Ojos de Agua due to her declining lung function.

Mary will be missed by many family and friends and will be remembered fondly.