Rebecca R. Ortiz

October 4, 1944 – February 15, 2023

Rebecca was born in Delano, California on October 4, 1944, to Benito Aguilar Rodriguez and Otilia Gonzales Rodriguez. She was the first born of a family of nine children, including six sisters and three brothers. Benito worked in the fields while Otilia stayed home as a homemaker and housewife. Soon after Rebecca was born, they moved to Texas where jobs were more plentiful. Rebecca was baptized at Santa Rita Catholic Church in Ranger, Texas on June 3, 1945, and was confirmed at Saint Anthony’s Catholic Church in Casa Grande, Arizona on May 3, 1946.

Early in her childhood her favorite things were playing house, swinging on swings, jump rope, hopscotch, and playing jacks. When Beckie was 8 or 10 years old, she enjoyed dancing and pretending she was a ballerina. She would put scarves around her waist, put the radio on and dance to just about anything, often having her younger sisters and brothers sit as her audience. There were times as a young teenager when she would dance with a doorknob pretending she had a dance partner. During her entire life, Beckie would enjoy all kinds of dance and music shows on television.

Later, the family moved to Arizona near their grandparent’s home where they had a tradition in the month of May where all the girls would dress in white dresses during the rosary and present flowers to Our Blessed Mother. Beckie used to say that she would hope this tradition would be revived again because to see so many girls dressed in white, all for Our Blessed Mother was an awesome sight.

Around this time, a family member mentioned the US Gypsum Plant in Midland, California was hiring. So, the family moved to Midland, where she and her siblings were bussed to Blythe, California to attend school. Beckie graduated from Palo Verde High School in 1965, having made many friends and memories.

Late 1966 while working at Western Auto, Beckie met her soon-to-be husband and love of her life Manuel Antonio Ortiz. During their courtship, she was made to take younger siblings along on dates. Knowing he had met his soulmate, Manuel never complained and obliged Beckie’s parents. On February 25, 1967, Manuel and Beckie were married. They started off their married life living in Lynwood (a then suburb of Los Angeles), California. Soon after their second daughter was born in 1970, Manuel and Beckie decided they didn’t want to raise their family in the city. A job opportunity with the Santa Fe Railroad at the Barstow yard came open, and the two of them moved their young family to the High Desert city of Barstow, California where they would purchase their first and only home and build a full family and church life.

While Rebecca was primarily a homemaker and housewife, she did in later years find herself employed at various retail stores in town, H&R Block for a while, but was primarily the school secretary for Saint Joseph Catholic Church’s school Mount Saint Joseph’s for many years where all the catholic school children affectionately called her “Miss Beckie”. She loved her years at the school, and cherished building relationships with the volunteers, parents, teachers, and nuns who kept the school running.

Over her 50+ years as an active member of Saint Joseph Parish in Barstow, California Beckie and Manuel together were active in the following ministries: Spanish Choir, Liturgy of the Word services in Baker, California, Baptism Ministry, Marriage Encounter, Eucharistic Minister of Holy Communion, Lector, RCIA, Bible Study, Cursillo Movement, Spanish Prayer Group, and Alabaré Charismatic Choir serving the entire

Diocese of San Bernardino. Beckie loved her Catholic faith and loved sharing it with others even more. Together with Manuel, they harmonized and sang for the Catholic Church for over 40 years, always claiming that those were the best and most awesome years playing for Our Father, Son, and Holy Spirit and the Catholic community. She had a deep devotion to Our Lady of Guadalupe, the rosary, and the Divine Mercy Chaplet.

Prior to her husband’s retirement, Santa Fe Railroad transferred them to Topeka, Kansas where they joined a mariachi choir and eventually became Spanish Choir Directors at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church. After five years in Topeka, Manuel retired in 1999 and they returned to their home in Barstow, California where the rekindled life-long friendships and ministries at Saint Joseph’s.

Beckie and Manuel spent their retirement traveling to see family and friends, renovating their home, watching their grandchildren and great-grandchildren grow, and praying for their loved ones without ceasing. They celebrated their golden anniversary with 50 years of marriage in 2017 with a papal proclamation and blessing from Pope Francis.

Rebecca was proceeded in death by her husband Manuel Antonio Ortiz, her Daughter Elisa Monica Bell, her parents Benito and Otilia Rodriguez, and her siblings Raquel, Susanna, and Nicanor Rodriguez. She is survived by her daughter Lydia (Ortiz) Manzanares and her husband Mark Manzanares, her son Manuel Ortiz II, and his wife Jordana Mistel Ortiz, sisters, Jo Ann Hernandez and her husband Lupe Hernandez, Virginia Rodriguez, Diana Alamos and her husband Tomas Alamos, her brothers Benito, and Ernesto Rodriguez and his wife Lisa Rodriguez, her grandchildren Gabriel Justin Bell and his wife Calloway Bastien, Jacob Alan Bell and his wife Katy, Alexa Christan Bell, Sophia Lauren Manzanares, Juliet Elaine (Manzanares) Barela and her husband Donavan Barela, Dane Alexander, Austin Michael, Michael Antonio and Otilia Marie Gallacher Ortiz, great-grandchildren John Beckam and Bodhi Thomas Bell, Donavan Cory JR, John-Paul Luke, Dean Michael, Jude Matthew and Baby Boy Barela (expected July 2023), Audrey Elisa Bell, and Baby Ortiz (expected September 2023). She is also survived by numerous nieces, nephews, cherished friends, Godchildren, and Compadres and Comadres.

All in all, she wanted to let you all know that she loved her husband Manuel, her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren very much. Beckie’s prayers always included asking God with Mary’s intersession to make them all Spirit-filled and bring Him many souls by the way they live their daily lives.

A rosary will be held Wednesday, March 29, 2023, at 10:00 AM and funeral mass will follow at 11:00 AM at St Joseph Catholic Church, 505 East Mountain View St, Barstow, California. A committal will occur following mass at Mountain View Memorial Park, 37067 Irwin Rd, Barstow, California where she will be laid to rest alongside her husband and daughter.

Eternal rest grand unto her, O Lord, and let Your perpetual light shine upon her. May her soul and the souls of all the faithful departed rest in peace. Amen.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.meadcares.com for the Ortiz family.

We here at Mead, offer our sincerest condolences to the family. Mead mortuary chapel and reception room are open for services at 100% capacity. If you need assistance, please call 760-256-5671 to speak with our staff. Our office area is open to the public however, we highly suggest that you call for an appointment before coming in so that you'll have our full attention and care. We are limiting our arrangement conferences to 4 guest until further notice. Thank you for your cooperation, we appreciate your understanding during this time.