It’s with a heavy heart the Araza family is announcing the passing of Leonila (Pee-Wee) Araza (91), beloved auntie, friend, great-grandmother, grandmother, mother, and wife after a long, fruitful, fulfilling, and beautiful life. Pee-Wee was born in Yuma on November 20, 1932, to Guadalupe and Ralph Ochoa of Yuma, AZ. As her life began to blossom in her early years in Yuma, she met the love of her life, my dad Bob. They made a commitment to one another to be by each other’s side. This lasted 71 years of life’s ups and downs but mostly…. magical times. Pee-Wee was truly loved by all she came in contact with, and she touched their soul. Her doctors, nurses, caregivers, were always excited to see her to admire and smile at her.
As a profession, she started her financial career in 1965 with Surety Savings in Yuma that eventually culminated as Assistant Vice-President at Century Bank in Phoenix. She was promoted because of her trustworthiness, honesty, sincerity, and genuine care of the bank clients she met. Pee-Wee was also active in Yuma for community programs such as art, home design, and modeling organizations.
Mom (Pee-Wee) is loved and survived by her husband Bob, her kids Adele Araza, Arlene Jeter, Anthony Araza, and the late Anna Johnson. Pee-wee came from a family of 3 brothers and 9 sisters. She is survived by her sisters Elisa Ahuero and Hilda Barr. She was a proud grandmother to AnaLisa, Michael, Matt, Lauren, Lindsay, Sara, Nick, Abe, and Avalon and was thrilled to be a great-grandmother to Carter, Zyar,
and Hayes.
Services will be held on Friday May 10, 2024, at 9:00AM at Johnson Mortuary and Desert Lawn Memorial Park, 1415 S. 1st Avenue, Yuma, Arizona 85364. Burial will follow after the ceremony. Celebration of life reception will follow after the burial back at the building where the ceremony was held.
