Esperanza Nuñez de Molina

Her life was a testament to how a strong will, a mother’s love, and ingenuity find a way to bear fruit from even the toughest circumstances.

Esperanza was raised by nuns in a Mexico City orphanage. It was a humble childhood - one bright moment was her First Communion, which was made possible by Mexican screen legend Mario Moreno “Cantinflas,” who donated her dress. “¡Es mi padrino!” (“There’s my godfather!”) she’d say whenever his movies would play on TV.

She grew up in that environment until her brother, Ricardo, returned for her. They forged ahead together, eventually moving to Tijuana, B.C.

She met and married Bulfrano Molina, a widower, in 1976. They had two daughters, Luz and Alma.

In 1984, she and her daughters moved to the United States, after her husband, a Bracero, petitioned for their Visas. The family settled in National City.

Despite not being an English speaker, she worked hard to make sure her daughters had the resources they needed to succeed. For decades she worked as a caregiver for seniors at Morgan Towers - she was a proud member of United Domestic Workers, advocating for the formation of the union alongside her dedicated friends and colleagues. She was also a lunch supervisor at Otis Elementary.

One of her greatest accomplishments was becoming a U.S. Citizen later in life. She studied for the exam with flash cards that Alma, by then a schoolteacher, put together. She was honored to earn the right to vote and never missed an election. She even had the chance to head to the polls to support Luz as she became an elected official in National City.

But perhaps her most rewarding moment was earning the cherished title of “Nana” to her grandsons: Cesar, Sol, Pablo, Benicio and Max.

She enjoyed Sunday mass at St. Anthony of Padua Church, gardening, cooking, taking care of her pets and Pedro Infante movies.

Esperanza was the youngest of five siblings, Porfirio, Ricardo, Teresa and Geronimo, who preceded her in death. Her husband, Bulfrano, passed away in 2011.

Esperanza is survived by her daughters, Luz and Alma, their husbands, and her grandsons.