Elsa F. Ibarra

Quiet, reserved and logical are trademark qualities that friends and family might use to describe Elsa F. Ibarra. Elsa 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, Elsa was a person who loved to imagine the possibilities of life.

She was the daughter of Nelson Ibarra and Lorenzo Peinado. Elsa 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.

Elsa was adaptable and had good listening skills which she would use to her advantage when it came to family life. She grew up with one brother. She had one brother Antonio Ibarra. She rarely shied away from family discussions. She would debate with her siblings but if it turned into an argument, Elsa would often turn it into an agreement. In general, the family got along well and shared many memorable experiences.

If her friends from high school thought Elsa was a serious student, then those who knew her later really saw her shine during her college years. Once she set her sights on an academic track that excited her, she would easily pass up her classmates, turning out quality work and setting high academic standards. She earned her bachelor of Arts.

Elsa grew, blossomed and became more balanced because of their love and compassion.

Elsa was a hard worker and a good provider who loved her family even though she wasn’t very demonstrative. Elsa was blessed with three, Dalia, Estella, and Juan. Elsa'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 Elsa loved them.

Finding the right type of job can be a challenge for anyone, but that was especially true for Elsa F. Ibarra. She needed to find a career that would challenge her. Fortunately, she found a career path where she could use her natural intellect and her natural critical thinking skills. Her primary occupation was as a nurse in Columbia and later a seamtress in the United States. Elsa was a dedicated and valued employee and was respected by her colleagues for her ability to grasp and understand difficult concepts.

Hobbies were more than fun for Elsa because she challenged herself to learn the theory behind the actual activity. Knowing how things worked was more incentive than just performing and completing the task. Her favorite pursuits were watching action movies.

Elsa found great pleasure by relaxing and watching sports on TV or in person. She was an avid student of the game and enjoyed comparing her ideas and choices with what actually happened during the game. Even though she generally would keep her feelings to herself, Elsa would often use athletic events and sports as an outlet. She also enjoyed just being a sports fan. Tops on her list were football and boxing.

Elsa'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 christian for 65 years a member of the Assemblies of God for 10 years at Norco 1st Assembly. During that time, she was a missionary from 1946 to 1961 in Columbia.

Elsa especially enjoyed time with her pets. She could spend hours in private thought, and her faithful companions would just sit by her side or in her lap. One of Elsa's favorites was Juliet the grey house cat. They were best friends for 13 years.

Elsa planned well for retirement so when it finally arrived in 1988, she was well prepared. She worked out many of the details in advance so that she could enjoy the time and not have to worry. Her new life involved relocating to Upland, California.

Elsa F. Ibarra passed away on February 23, 2011 at Vista Hospital of Riverside in Perris California. She suffered heart failure from pneumonia. She is survived by Estella Monico and Juan Espinosa and Dalia Ayala. Services were held at Crestlawn Memorial Chapel in Riverside, California. Elsa was laid to rest in Crestlawn Memorial Park in Riverside, California.

Those who knew and loved Elsa 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.