Maria Meza

Maria was an intuitive person. She was the type of person who could comfortably get lost in her thoughts, someone who had tremendous problem solving abilities. Always conscientious and focused on details, Maria was a person who loved to imagine the possibilities of life.

Maria was born on October 22, 1924 at Sanguijuela, Jalisco in Mexico. She was the daughter of Manuel Ayala and Soledad Lopez. She was raised in Sanguijuela, Jalisco. Maria did not have to surround herself with people to be content. She was the type of person who enjoyed being alone rather than be part of a large crowd. She could be content for hours in some activity or be lost in her own imagination. However, she loved her family and could always bring smiles to their faces, and warmth in their hearts.

Maria was adaptable and had good listening skills which she would use to her advantage when it came to family life. She grew up with nine siblings. She had six younger brothers, Vincente, Guadalupe, Salvador, Jose, Raul, Arturo, and three younger sisters, Maria Luisa, Teresa, and Guillermina. She rarely shied away from family discussions. She would debate with her siblings but if it turned into an argument, Maria would often turn it into an agreement. In general, the family got along well, was the center of her life and shared many cherished experiences.

Maria was a sensitive and compassionate person. Growing up, Maria never attended high school. In those days, it wasn't a requirement to attend school, so Maria helped out the family by caring for her brothers and sisters. Even though she wasn’t in school, she delighted in challenge of teaching her brothers and sisters strong values, the importance of family, faith, hard work, dedication, kindness, tolerance, generosity, forgiveness, and love.

Maria finally found connection and fulfillment when on December 1, 1941; she exchanged wedding vows with Salvador Meza at the Catedral La Piedad of La Piedad, Michoacan, Mexico. Salvador was influential in Maria's life and brought a dimension of emotion and feelings to a woman who mostly lived in her intellect. Maria grew, blossomed and became more balanced because of their love and compassion and in the bond of marriage; she received her greatest callings, being a wife to Salvador, and mother to her beautiful children.

Maria was a hard worker and a good provider who loved her family even though she wasn’t very demonstrative. Maria was blessed with seven children, three sons, Moises, Hector and Juan; and four daughters: Elisa, America, Minerva and Concepcion. They were also blessed with Thirty Grandchildren, Felipe, Roberto, Diana, Lilly, Efren, Karina, Juan Carlos, Iris, Arnulfo, Rodrigo, Moises, Francisca, Cesar, Raul, Ronaldo, America, Partricia, Ana, Brenda, Jose Antonio, Cynthia, Minerva, Juan Jr., Lisa, Jessica, Javier, Sandra, Nereyda, Noberto, Rita. Maria's sense of fun was often unleashed in her puns and witty, intelligent quips. It delighted her when the children and grandchildren would banter back and forth with her in this brainy exchange of mind contests. The children always knew how much Maria loved them with all of her heart, and there wasn’t anything that she wouldn’t do for them to demonstrate her love.

Maria never needed to find a career in an office, or in a retail store. Fortunately, for her children, she found a career path where she could use her natural intellect and her natural critical thinking skills. Her primary occupation was as a Homemaker. She was employed for her entire life, doing God's work. Maria was a dedicated and valued mother and wife was respected by her family for her selfless ability to provide whatever needed at a moment’s notice.

Hobbies were more than fun for Maria because she challenged herself to create value in the simplest things. She was known for taking the most humble amount of money or materials, and turning it into an activity or time that could be enjoyed by all. Maria took so much joy from watching people enjoy the fruit of her labor. One of Maria’s favorite activities was her love of sewing and painting ceramics. She enjoyed expressing her creativity by painting ceramic trinkets when she was living in Planada, and during her time there, she created quite an elaborate collection of artifacts.

Maria's strong sense of faith helped her remain focused on the needs and concerns of others. These values brought her strength and helped to reinforce the importance of both her faith and the practice of her religion. She was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Planada, California. During that time, she was a faithful member that attended church as often as she could.

Maria never retired from what she enjoyed most. She cherished every moment of loving her family, and always provided the support needed to whoever needed it. She made it a point to celebrate milestones of life as often as possible. Just by “dropping by” she could brighten anyone’s day, and she took so much pride in creating meaningful relationships with her family. Maria may have not worked a traditional job, however she worked her entire live raising her family and lovingly caring for her brothers, sisters, children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren.

Maria passed peacefully of natural causes. She is survived by her children, Elisa, Moises, America, Hector, Minerva, Juan and Concepcion, plus her thirty grandchildren and seven great grandchildren. Services were held at Sacred Heart Church. Maria was laid to rest in Calvary Cemetery in Merced, California.

Those who knew and loved Maria will miss her quiet gentleness, her curiosity and her ability to often turn work situations into fun experiences. She leaves all those who knew her with many wonderful memories.

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Maria Jesus Meza was born to Manuel Ayala and Soledad Lopez in Sanguijuela, Tamaulipas, Mexico on October 22, 1924 and passed away in Merced, California on November 28, 2014 at the age of 90 years.

Maria was a Merced resident for 36 years and previously lived in Planada for 15 years. She was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church and Sociedad Edad de Oro. Maria enjoyed spending time with her family and enjoyed working in the home as a homemaker for 64 years.

Maria was preceded in death by her husband, Salvador Meza; parents, Manuel Ayala and Soledad Lopez; daughter, Elisa Valero; son, Hector Meza; brothers, Raul, Guadalupe, Arturo, and Vicente Ayala; sisters, Teresa and Maria Luisa Ayala; paternal grandparents, Albino and Salome Lopez and maternal grandparents, Juan and Refugio Rivera.

She is survived by her sons, Moises Meza and Juan M. Meza; daughters, America Walle, Minerva Concha, and Concepcion Meza; brothers, Salvador and Jose Ayala; sister, Guillermina Ayala; 30 grandchildren, 37 great grandchildren, and 1 great great grandchild.

A visitation will be held on Monday, December 8, 2014 from 4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. with the Vigil Service With Rosary following at 6:00 p.m. at Stratford Evans Merced Funeral Home. The Funeral Mass will be held on Tuesday, December 9, 2014 at 12:00 p.m. at Sacred Heart Catholic Church. Burial will follow at Calvary Cemetery in Merced.

Arrangements are under the direction of Stratford Evans Merced Funeral Home.