Gloria Patino Ruiz

Maria Fernanda Gloria Patiño Fuentes, known to all as “Mama”, was born on May 30,1931 in México City, México. She grew up with her parents, Manuel Patiño and Aurora Fuentes, and brothers Manuel, Rodolfo, and Guillermo. She often shared the happy times of her childhood—running in the cobblestone streets, playing marbles, skipping school to go to the candy store, and secretly listening to music at night on a radio she was not allowed to touch. Mama often told of her happiest times in her “Pueblo”, Tezoyuca, where she, her mother, and brothers, would escape from what she described as their tumultuous home and difficult life in Mexico City. They would enjoy the peacefulness and simplicity of the tiny pueblo.

Her mother, Aurora, was her world and taught her to cook, sew, and love music. Mama was her mother’s protector until she lost her to cancer at the age of 18. She married shortly after and had three children—however, the marriage was similar to the difficult life she had endured as a child. Mama bravely left with her children to start a new life. However, she ultimately lost custody when she was unable to work and raise them by herself. She never forgot them. This is what she often called, “the first half of my book.”

Mama wanted to study fashion design, but ultimately pursued dictation in vocational school and worked as an executive administrative assistant for the Mexican government for several years. She was very proud of her career and often told of having met dignitaries from different countries. The “second half of her book” began when she met Nestor Ruiz, who brought her love of music to full bloom. With his guitar and romantic voice, he made her feel beautiful and encouraged her to sing. Together they both started a new life, sang together, married, and had four children: Nora, Norma, Nadia, and Nestor. With the dream of a better life, he left Mexico to work in the United States. Not wanting to lose her family again, she sold all of their belongings and traveled by train with her four children to join him. For three years, they traveled to wherever there was work. They settled in San Jose, California before they were uprooted again and deported to Mexicali. Pregnant with their fifth child, they re-entered the United States, and in 1974, Nelson was born. Together, they raised their five children in San Jose. In 1995, her music and life partner Nestor passed away.

Mama’s difficult life never affected her positive outlook and her love of life. She was kind, forgiving, and loving to all who knew her. Her love of art, music, and food were evident in all she did for her family. She sewed, knitted, and crocheted countless creations for her children and grandchildren. Her beautiful beaded jewelry, stored in what she called her “tiendita,” was always gifted. She could never bring herself to sell it because, more than anything, she loved to give it away to anyone who appreciated her work and creations. Music filled her soul with joy and brought back memories of her childhood and her life. She shared these stories and passed on her love of music and art to many of her grandchildren, some of them pursuing the arts professionally. She attended many of their performances, always beaming with pride. She taught her children and grandchildren how to carefully select quality fruits and vegetables and passed on traditions through her cooking, culminating with the annual tamalada during Christmas. Her greatest joy was to gather at Noche Buena and toast life with Rompope.

Mama taught us that family was important. Mama remained deeply connected to her tias, primos, and brothers in Mexico and to Mexico itself. She never lost spiritual sight of her Mexican ancestors, which instilled in us a strong sense of pride and love for Mexico and for family there as well. Her love for her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren was unconditional. Mama gave us all her love equally, no matter what. As she always told us at gatherings and on phone calls, “Los amo a todos!” She taught us to be strong, to fight for what we believed, to believe in ourselves, and to never give up. She also taught us to be kind, thankful, and forgiving, and to always stay together as a family. Mama’s stories, music and spirit will live on in each of us. She is survived by her children, Nora, Norma, Nadia, Nestor, and Nelson; her 16 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.

Webcast Link: https://client.tribucast.com/tcid/c24099629881832