Joanna Lira Zamora

Joanna Lira Zamora, known to some family and friends as grandma, aunty Joann, Juana or simply, Joann, a compassionate and generous soul. Born on February 25, 1952 in El Paso Texas. Joanna was a resident of Fresno, California for most of her life until her untimely death on August 27th, 2025.

She was marked by her hard-working nature, resilience, creativity, cooking, master gardening, & baking. She would talk to all and was intimidated by none. She helped so many, with a meal, a place to stay, or would just listen. She was a kind-hearted spirit; she was a beautiful and brilliant minded mother in her own right.

If you went for a visit and she would not answer your knock, it was a guarantee that she was in the yard or in the kitchen with the music turned up and hands drenched in dough or dirt. she would always be in her garden or in the kitchen preparing a few of her specialties, Spanish rice (the best!) homemade flour tortillas (the best!) upside down pineapple cake; I cannot recall a bad tasting meal, our mother was an excellent cook. She put her skills to work at many functions, whether hosted by family or friends, including outside venues such as, San Joaquin Memorial H.S. & St. John’s Cathedral Church, in addition to her cooking excellence, she had her own house cleaning business and was not shy to enlist her kids to help, she had an attention to detail that was unmatched.

She was predeceased by her father, Juan Johnny Lira, her mother, Frances (Mary Ellen) Bracknell Lira (brother) Johnny Lira, (sister) Patricia Cota, survived by her faithful & devoted husband, Arnold Cota.

Her surviving siblings/spouses: Richard & wife Jessie Lira - Jesse & wife Martha Lira - Angie Lira Nave.

Joanna leaves behind her four adult children/spouses:

Priscilla & husband (predeceased) John Nikitin - Christopher & wife Michele Sosa - Bonnie & husband Michael King - Joshua Martinez.

Joanna’s Grandchildren/spouses/great grandchildren:

Kelly Hogue & Prescious Nikitin.

Nicole, Christopher, & John Sosa

Myrissa & Janzen & son Gabriel Barrett – Aubrina & Amanda Martinez & daughters, Nikita & Averial - Hunter & Andrew Paruzzo - Devyn Higgins.

Joanna also leaves behind numerous family and friends to cherish her memory. David John, Lee, Jesse, Valerie, Corina, Ricky, Catrina, Kathleen, Shawna, Kayla, Denise, Angel.

Her legacy of kindness and generosity & caring nature will be remembered by all who knew her, she was a different type of mother, grandmother, great grandmother, sibling, friend, spouse. She lived this life with no restraint, she pushed forward when circumstances were barreling down on her, she was a force to be reckoned with.

We love you, Momma!