Emilia Paniagua Casas died peacefully on September 20, 2020 of natural causes. She was 104 years old. Born in Guadalajara, Jalisco Mexico, to Jose Paniagua and Angela Muro Moreno. In the 1920’s her family immigrated to America. She took care of her baby brother while her family worked picking fruit. Emilia and her husband, Roman, became U.S. citizens in the early 40’s. They lived in Needles, CA until the 60’s, when they moved to Highland, CA.
Emilia was a very caring and loving mother to her children. Her greatest wish was that all eight children receive a solid Catholic education and graduate from high school with a cap & gown. She was a true and devout Catholic and made sure the entire family received the sacraments. Emilia was a member of the Guadalupana Society and the Sacred Heart Apostolate.
While in Highland, she was employed as a cook at the San Bernardino County Hospital for 10 years from which she retired. She very much enjoyed needlework of many kinds. One of her favorite pastimes was playing blackjack and push rummy with her family.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 58 years and her two eldest sons, Felix and Ernesto, as well as many family members in Mexico and Central California. Emilia is survived by her two sisters, Angie and Tomasita, and her remaining children: Bernie Fiori, Ventura Quiroz, Phillip, Steve, and Paul Casas, and Dora Casas Goffman. She will be greatly missed by her family, grandchildren, great grandchildren, great-greats, and 3x great grandchildren.
A rosary will be celebrated at 9:30am followed by Holy Mass at 10am. Services will be held at St. Joseph the the Worker Church at 10816 Mountain View Ave in Loma Linda on October 22, 2020. Interment will then follow immediately at Montecito Memorial Park, 3520 E. Washington St. in Colton.
Attendees are asked to bring their own folding chairs and masks to wear during the services.
