After bravely living with so many infirmities for many decades, Hortensia Salazar was in the company of her daughter and son-in-law, Elizabeth and Larry, her many Atria friends, and hospice when she quietly passed away on October 17, 2019. In the arms of our Lord, she is now, finally, without pain.
Born in Ojai, CA on May 19, 1930 to Salvador and Maria de Refugio (Quezada) Guerrero, Hortensia was the youngest of eight of their union. Orphaned as a toddler in the depths of the Great Depression, she was raised by her caring aunt and uncle Paulino and Macedonia (Llamas) Perez in Los Angeles. She attended Sacred Heart Academy High School in Lincoln Heights, where she excelled and lettered in basketball and from which she graduated in 1949. Tencha, as she was nicknamed, then began her professional life as an executive secretary, starting at MGM Pictures in marketing and distribution, where she stayed for 25 years. She then transitioned to the Los Angeles Unified School District for a few years, before finding her niche as a legal pioneer in the then-untapped industry of court translation and interpretation. Her fete accompli was her utmost devotion to perfect translation and interpretation in the courts to those otherwise unable to express themselves in English. She was a natural, highly sought-after by attorneys, law enforcement, health care providers, and phone companies. Eventually recognized as a necessity by the State of California, she easily became state-certified and an official employee of the Los Angeles Superior (and previously, Municipal) Court system, from which she retired after 40 years of service in 2016.
Tencha’s career longevity, work ethic and stamina were infused by her Guerrero genes; she was fiercely proud of her Guerrero heritage and professional wrestling legacy created by her brother Salvador (Gory) Guerrero and nephews. Her sisters and brothers were also great sources of inspiration to her, especially as she grew to eventually become a peer and a mischievous and strong-willed sister.
In 1955 she saw a portrait atop a TV of a young sailor and fell in love with his eyes. She eventually met that sailor whose eyes captured hers and soon, was betrothed to John Gilbert Salazar. They married on August 2, 1958 and began a family of three daughters: Mary M. (1959), Margaret M. (1960), and Elizabeth M. (1961).
But being a young Navy wife was hard, especially as John did two tours of duty in Vietnam and countless, months-long West Pac deployments during wartime as well, in addition to deployments to the Caribbean for the Bay of Pigs and Cuban Missile Crisis, Antarctica, and other far flung places in the western hemisphere, all while Tencha kept the home fires burning, juggling homemaking and babies. She was able to return to work at MGM, rubbing shoulders with the great movie stars of the day as part of her job, a perk John really enjoyed.
Tencha and John also shared a love for road trips to wherever their hearts desired, driving through the southwest and western states, and deep into Mexico countless times...just because. At home, she loved her parrots, telenovelas, and word puzzles of all types.
Upon retiring in 2016, she left her beloved Los Angeles behind after 86 years and moved to Novato to be close to Elizabeth and Larry. Tencha quickly made her new home at Atria Tamalpais her “base camp,” where she promptly forged new friendships, showed her strong spirit to everyone, and made her warm and helpful presence known. The staff at Atria kindly and patiently understood her afflictions and showered her with patience, love, potato chips, cheese, and salsa. Many thanks to her devoted friends at Atria: Nicole, Melvin, Roseann, Wendy, Christina, Amy, Rosa, Ellen, and Josie, who cared so much for her, her well-being and her happiness. They always made her feel so special.
Elizabeth and Larry also express deep gratitude to her Suncrest Hospice team, who embraced her with love, compassion, understanding, and delicate care: Sarajane Eppelett, RN; Elliett Alomar, MSW, and Steve Sanchez who, despite Tencha’s profound hearing loss, would serenade her and somehow she’d hear him. Acclaim Home Care’s Susan, Doris and Adele reflected sincerity with the dignified care they provided when she needed them most.
Hortensia is survived by her three daughters and dear son-in-law Larry; her sisters Grace Alvarez of San Jose, and Estela Camargo of Orange County; half-brother Ernie Guerrero of Landers, and countless nieces, nephews and cousins in California, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, and Mexico, along with so very many friends.
Tencha was pre-deceased in 2013 by her loving husband of 55 years, John; her birth parents Salvador and Maria de Refugio, loving surrogate parents who raised her, Paulino and Macedona Perez; siblings Rosa Mejia; Barty Garnica; Salvador II; Paul, and Felicitas Guerrero.
A devout Roman Catholic, Hortensia made three pilgrimages to Our Lady: Mexico City and two to Medjugorje, and would appreciate that you pray for her soul and for peace in the family.
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