Dionicia Viramontes

      To Dionicia Viramontes, the entire world was a stage. An expressive, optimistic, and uninhibited individual, she was a performer in the theater of life. To everyone around her, she seemed to be eternally happy, and she willingly shared that joy with anyone whose life she touched. For Dionicia, bringing out the best in any situation was as easy as offering a smile, a witty remark or the twinkle of an eye. And with just those simple gestures, she could evoke the most pleasant of emotions. Dionicia really mastered the art of living and had great fun in doing so.

       Her parents were Felipe and Atanasia Medina. Dionicia was raised in Jalpa, New Mexico and Santa Ana. Even as a child, Dionicia had the ability to lift the spirits of all those around her. She was raised to be warm, caring and friendly. She couldn’t help but capture everyone’s attention. She was definitely a little bit of a show off, but in doing so, she succeeded in entertaining her entire family.

      Always a good playmate, Dionicia was easygoing and fun loving. She managed to lighten the mood wherever she was, even during family squabbles. She seemed to have a knack for bringing compromise and erasing tense situations around the house. Due to a generous dose of common sense, Dionicia managed to find a satisfying solution to basic problems. Dionicia was one of eight children. She had four brothers: Vidal, Felipe, Manuel and Juan, Three sisters: Refujio, Josefina and Beatriz.

      The gift of being emotionally expressive and outwardly affectionate made Dionicia very easy to approach. She tried hard not to impose on her spouse. She was always sensitive to other people’s feelings, and that was especially true in marriage.

      Perhaps the reason Dionicia related so well to children was the fact that she never really completely grew up herself. The ability to be just a “kid at heart” helped her in raising her own children. Dionicia was blessed with five children, Consuelo, Cristina, Ramon, Paz and Grace. Dionicia had the ability to focus her attention on the present moment. If she was spending time with the kids, that’s where all of her attention was directed. Dionicia's compassionate side prevented her from being a strict disciplinarian, and she could turn just about any situation into a playful, learning experience. She could spend hours entertaining them with fun and creative play. In fact, Dionicia had a knack for turning some of those nasty old chores into games.

      At work, as in life, Dionicia was a real “people person. ” she had a very successful way of dealing effectively with others, and her enthusiasm and energy was often contagious. Dionicia liked to see herself as something of a virtuoso. When dealing with various projects and problems, Dionicia was an adaptable realist, using her common sense and trusting her experiences and impulses to uncover the correct answer. Dionicia's talent for being a down to earth thinker, allowed many around her to see Dionicia as an excellent problem solver. Her primary occupation was as a caregiver but was always a homemaker to her family.

      Dionicia enjoyed her leisure time by taking part in various hobbies. An “arts and crafts” type, Dionicia liked creating and making things. Her favorite pursuits were family get togethers, bus trips and outings with her sisters and playing card games with friends and family. Dionicia was content to enjoy her hobbies alone but was also willing to share her interests with others.

      Vested with a deep concern for spiritual development, Dionicia recognized that her faith was important to her throughout her life. She was a member of St. Leander Catholic Church in San Leandro. During that time, she was very active in church functions and community events.

      Dionicia passed away on February 11, 2008 at Eden Medical Center in Castro Valley, CA. She is survived by children: Paz, Cristina, Tita, Ramon and many grandchildren and great grandchildren. Funeral mass held at St. Leander Catholic Church, Friday, February 15, 2008 at 9:30 a.m. Laid to rest in St. Mary's Cemetery, Oakland, CA.

      Dionicia brought joy to all of those around her. She never had a mean bone in her body. She loved to have a good time and was an eternal optimist, always looking on the bright side of things. She loved to share her energy, wit, and her zest for all of her activities with her friends and family. Dionicia Viramontes lived life to its fullest and made everyone around her happier just for knowing her. She will be remembered with a smile.