Josefina Serenil Beltran

Born on March 21, 1937, into the embrace of her beloved mother Clarita, Jo overcame a childhood filled with extreme adversity to live a long life brimming with achievements, laughter, love, faith, and adventure. As a girl, she spent her time closely with her mother and sisters. They carried each other through difficult times, and made their own good times. Never giving up or giving in to the hardships they faced, they always had each other.

When she was a young woman, she met and married the love of her life, Ray Beltran, Jr. From their initial friendship grew a love story that persevered through decades of trials and triumphs, for richer and poorer, through sickness and through health. Their children and grandchildren watched them love each other with ferocity and forgiveness. On this foundation of love, Ray and Jo created a life together that was unique and exciting. Having a family together, building businesses together, traveling together, laughing together - anything was possible when they were TOGETHER. They were a perfect fit.

An extraordinary woman at the center of our family, being loved by her was an extraordinary thing. None of us could have asked for more in a Wife, a Mama, or a Nana. The words to adequately describe her do not exist; she’s more easily found in feelings – the feeling of being loved when you felt unlovable, the feeling of being sure you were her favorite, the feeling of knowing she was there as a soft place to land, the feeling of her cool, graceful hand on your cheek, the feeling of acceptance at her kitchen table. The feeling of Home, which she opened to ALL. She felt like Christmas – warm, inviting, sparkling, and full of surprises. She was a blessing to all of us - truly to anyone who ever met her. We are all better because of her.

On July 19, 2018, Jo joined her mother, her sisters Irene, Amada, Cipriana and Hope, and countless other ancestors, relatives and friends in Glory with The Lord. Her husband Ray, her children ClaraJo, Ray and Phillip, and her many grandchildren and great-grandchildren anxiously await the day we can be in her arms again. Until that time comes, she will live in Glory in the embrace of Jesus and here in the love and memories she planted in our hearts.

Clothed with strength, compassion and dignity rooted in a deep love of Christ, she could laugh at the days ahead, prepared for whatever they would bring and rejoice the days that had passed. She spoke with wisdom and faithful instruction and a quiet, dignified confidence. Her children and grandchildren call her blessed, her husband also, and he praises her, honoring her for all that her hands and heart have done. Many women do noble things, but she surpasses them all. A woman who was unsinkable, joyful, faithful, brave, and passionate - she encouraged the same qualities in us. Our loving, beautiful, radiant, hilarious Josefina. The #1 Uno Champion of Morse Court.

Services and reception will be held on Saturday, July 28, 2018, at Coronado Baptist Church, 516 Norris Rd., at 10:00 AM.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to Hoffman Hospice, 8501 Brimhall Road, Bldg. 100, Bakersfield, CA 93312. The care they helped us provide for Jo was above and beyond what we expected, and allowed us to give her the love and care she greatly deserved in her final days.