Marina Estrella Ricci

      To Marina Estrella Ricci, the entire world was a stage. An expressive, optimistic, and uninhibited individual, she was a performer in the theater of life. To everyone around her, she seemed to be eternally happy, and she willingly shared that joy with anyone whose life she touched. For Marina, bringing out the best in any situation was as easy as offering a smile, a witty remark or the twinkle of an eye. And with just those simple gestures, she could evoke the most pleasant of emotions. Marina really mastered the art of living and had great fun in doing so.

       Her parents were Manuel Jesus Sanchez and Santos Portillo. Marina was raised in El Salvador. Even as a child, Marina had the ability to lift the spirits of all those around her. She was raised to be warm, caring and friendly. She couldn’t help but capture everyone’s attention. She was definitely a little bit of a show off, but in doing so, she succeeded in entertaining her entire family.

      Marina reveled in her college years, where her imagination could run free. She was viewed by many of her classmates as being a creative, artistic person. Marina was usually found at the center of things, whether it was during class or in extracurricular activities. She was a jovial person who loved to share her passion for fun with others. But for Marina, life was not a case of all play and no work. Marina relished the task of putting her imagination to work in class. She was able to discover new and different ways of answering problems and creating unusual and different solutions. She earned her degree in Biblical Studies. She also pursued graduate school, earning her degree in Theology. Happy to have finished College.

      Marina never actually encountered a stranger in her dealings with people. She was drawn to individuals and crowds, using her gregarious, adaptable and outgoing personality to captivate her audience. This quality allowed Marina to continually develop new relationships, ever widening her circle of friends. Marina delighted in her role among all her acquaintances, because she viewed them all as potential spectators for her performance. Whether it was a story, a joke, a song or just plain fooling around, Marina was always right at home putting on a show among her friends. Marina utilized her interest in others as a great way to connect with them. While growing up, some of her best friends were Marina and Martha. Marina loved sharing life and having her home filled with people she knew.

      The gift of being emotionally expressive and outwardly affectionate made Marina very easy to approach. On August 1, 1986 Marina exchanged wedding vows with Joseph G. She tried hard not to impose on her spouse. She was always sensitive to other people’s feelings, and that was especially true in marriage.

      Perhaps the reason Marina related so well to children was the fact that she never really completely grew up herself. The ability to be just a “kid at heart” helped her in raising her own children. Marina was blessed with two, Anthony J. Ricci and Joseph E. Ricci. They were also blessed with two, Jeremiah A. Ricci and Noah T. Ricci. Marina had the ability to focus her attention on the present moment. If she was spending time with the kids, that’s where all of her attention was directed. Marina's compassionate side prevented her from being a strict disciplinarian, and she could turn just about any situation into a playful, learning experience. She could spend hours entertaining them with fun and creative play. In fact, Marina had a knack for turning some of those nasty old chores into games.

      At work, as in life, Marina was a real “people person.” She had a very successful way of dealing effectively with others, and her enthusiasm and energy was often contagious. Marina liked to see herself as something of a virtuoso. When dealing with various projects and problems, Marina was an adaptable realist, using her common sense and trusting her experiences and impulses to uncover the correct answer. Marina's talent for being a down to earth thinker, allowed many around her to see Marina as an excellent problem solver. Her primary occupation was Pastor and Executive chef. She was employed for 20 years as a Executive chef, 8 years as a pastor.

      Marina enjoyed her leisure time by taking part in various hobbies. An “arts and crafts” type, Marina liked creating and making things. Her favorite pursuits were shopping and reading the Bible. Marina was content to enjoy her hobbies alone but was also willing to share her interests with others.

      Marina felt excited and challenged by sports. Even if she wasn’t the best, Marina loved to participate and thoroughly enjoyed the competition and the pleasure of being around other people. Marina relished the opportunities where she could make an impact, and she would often push herself to play above her abilities. A quick thinker who understood the basics, Marina never seemed to get caught off guard, even when confronted with unexpected conflict. Marina was also something of a sports fan and enjoyed watching her favorite events whenever she got the opportunity. Tops on her list were Soccer and baseball with the family.

      A generous person who often wore her heart on her sleeve, Marina often found herself involved in activities she deemed important. She was charitable, kind and giving, qualities that made her a natural volunteer. Politically, Marina was Republican.

      Vested with a deep concern for spiritual development, Marina recognized that her faith was important to her throughout her life. She was a member assemblies of god. During that time, she was pastor,volunteer,leader and prayer.

      Living life in the fast lane suited Marina just fine. It is no surprise that she loved to travel and to visit new and different places. She was naturally curious about other parts of the world and loved the real life adventure that came from visiting them. She was impulsive and willing to try anything once. Favorite vacations included Santa Barbara,San Diego,Rosarito and Belize.

      Marina passed away on 20 de febrero del 2015 at Montclair, California. She fought a brave and courageous fight against breast cancer. She is survived by sons Anthony, Joseph and brother Levi. Services were held at Oakdale Memorial Park. Marina was laid to rest in Oakdale Memorial Park.

      Marina brought joy to all of those around her. She never had a mean bone in her body. She loved to have a good time and was an eternal optimist, always looking on the bright side of things. She loved to share her energy, wit, and her zest for all of her activities with her friends and family. Marina Estrella Ricci lived life to its fullest and made everyone around her happier just for knowing her. She will be remembered with a smile.