Maria De Jesus Herrera

Maria De Jesus Herrera was beautiful woman, whose light spread throughout the world. Maria was born in Autlan, Jalisco on December 26, 1943. She was the first daughter of Fidencio and Felicitas Hernandez. She later was also a sibling to Pedro Hernandez, who was 3 years younger. She lived her youth in Mexico surrounded by her grandparents, aunt, and uncles. After Sixth Grade, she was given the choice to continue her school education or start working. She chose the latter. She did not like structured schooling and wanted to help the family with the finances. Early on she worked in a market place in Tijuana, Mexico. Being that her father, Fidencio was a musician, Maria and her family lived in Mexico City, Mexico and Guadalajara, Jalisco and eventually the United States of America.

Maria became a US resident at the age of 19, where she started working as a waitress. She made many dear friends during this time in her life, which in her older years she spoke about with a smile on her face and high regards. Maria also met one special life partner, which would be with her throughout the rest of her life. He was Fidel Melero Herrera, her husband.

In telling the rest of the biography of Maria, it is hard to differentiate between her life and his as they truly were one person under God. Where Maria was, Fidel was there as well, whether it was physical or just in spirit (which is just as strong, if not stronger). Maria met Fidel in 1964, when working at a restaurant in Swans Market in Oakland, California. He became a regular customer at the restaurant and eventually began courting Maria. She was smitten about him, just as much as he was about her.

On December 26, 1965, at the age 22, Maria married her life partner, Fidel. They lived in Oakland, California for the first few years of marriage, where they had 2 sons, Alfred and Robert, and 1 daughter, Angelica. Eventually, Maria moved to San Diego, California with her young family. During their early years in San Diego, they had their last daughter, Noemi.

During the same year that Maria’s last daughter was born, Maria’s parents opened up Guadalajara de Noche Restaurant. It was a restaurant that they would have in their family for 24 years. Maria was very devoted to her family restaurant. During this time, Maria happily served and met many people that years later would greet her around town.

When the restaurant closed, Maria’s mother came to live with Maria and her family in their home. Over this last course of her life, she suffered the loss of her husband, Fidel, but was blessed with 5 grandchildren, Nyssa, Andrea, Bobby, Gabriella, and Jeremiah. She was a woman who loved to have her family and friends close by. It was expected, one of the first words that she would tell you after you entered her home was, “Ya comistes?” (“Have you eaten?”). She loved to serve people and get them to sit down and stay a while.

Maria was a strong and beautiful woman who always through love and compassion touched the lives of many people. She died in her home on March 16, 2012. We should all find peace in the fact that she has first and foremost reunited with God in an unimaginable way, but also find consolation in that she has reunited with her husband, Fidel, her father, Fidencio, and many more family members that passed before her.

She will be missed here on this earth, but all of God’s angels must be rejoicing to feel the true light of her presence. We pray that her light spread throughout the earth and throughout all of our souls, so that we could keep some of her humility and love. Peace be with us all.