Mary Magana "Chuy" Urquizu passed away Monday morning February 11th, 2019 at her home in San Bernardino CA with her living family at her side. She lived a long, happy, and meaningful life of 92 years. She was a blessing from God.
This is her story.
Chuy was born April 27, 1926 to Agustin and Enriquetta (Padilla) Magana in the town of Boyle Heights in Los Angleles, CA. She was the first born of the family. She was the first generation born in the United States. Her parents immigrated from Mexico during the time of the Mexican Revolution. Her birth name was Maria Jesus Magana. The nickname Chuy was common for those with Spanish version of Jesus. She had four brothers and four sisters. In order they are Juan(John), Armando(Mondo), Helena, Esther, Margaret (Maggie), Agustin Jr. (Tin), Lucy, and Luis(Louie).
Chuy's father got into the grocery business. He opened a small grocery in San Bernardino, CA. It was the kind with living quarters upstairs and Chuy spent most of her childhood there. He he also had a grocery truck business, and he would often travel to the town of Fontana. He saw greater opportunity there, and he would open a store in South Fontana. When Chuy was 12 the family moved to a house across the street from the grocery store on Slover Avenue. Chuy had warm memories of growing up in San Bernardino and Fontana. She remember road trips to Los Angeles with her parents and her Uncle Homer, but especially trips to Mexico with her parents or on her own. She has warm memories of her trips, the towns of San Julian and Leon, and of getting to know her Grandparents, Uncles, Aunts, Cousins from both the Magana and Padilla family.
Soon after moving to Fontana she would attend Fontana Junior High. This was a big deal as she was among the first of Mexican descent to attend the school. Prior to that those of Mexican descent and other nationalities were in segregated schools much as African-Americans were and would be for many years. Her father saw the injustice of this and fought to have her attend the school. Chuy would have to stick up for herself at first, but soon fit in. She was a good student, and even had a talent for opera singing. Her teachers recommended her for more training, but her parents had other plans for her. She would have to leave school to help with her Father's grocery store. What she learned in school was very valuable in the store. She would continue to work in the store full-time or part-time for 40 years.
The Love of her Life
While Chuy worked at the grocery store, she had many suitors come around. In fact, as the story goes some guys would have her walk up the ladder to get something from the upper shelves just so they can get a look at her legs. Especially since she would wear her dresses with high heels. However, she was not one to be easily impressed. In fact, she was,not all that impressed with one Gonzalo "Chayo" Urquizu. Chayo grew up in the same neighborhood as Chuy, and they both went to Fontana Jr. High. While Chuy's first impressions of Chayo were not great(or so she would say), she must have have caught the eye of the Chayo. Chayo would go off to serve his country in 1944 in World War II. During his time serving in the Pacific he wrote many letters to Chuy. Soon after he returned their romance began.
Chuy and Chayo would soon fall in love. As Chuy remembers Chayo asked her if she would be his girl. She said yes. Asked if she might marry him, she answered maybe. The maybe would become yes and they became engaged. However, Chayo's concerns about how Chuy's family felt led to doubts. So Chayo gave Chuy an ultimatum: marry him now or it was over. Chuy who was not or has ever been a big risk-taker took the biggest risk of her life. Chuy and Chayo eloped, and married in Reno, Nevada on November 25th, 1947. It was the best decision of Chuy's life. Her parents were not happy about the elopement, and they would not accept the marriage unless they were married by the church. So they did. They very soon married at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Fontana.
Chuy and Chayo marriage would last 69 years. They had three sons: Benjamin(Benny), David(Tito), and Luis(Louie). They would have 10 grandchildren, and 30 great-children. They would share many happy memories with them, and the extended Urquizu and Magana families.
Chuy and Chayo's marriage was a traditional marriage. He would work many years at the railroad, and at Kaiser Steel. Chuy was a homemaker, although she continued working at the grocery for many years. Their amazing 69 years can be explained in part by their love and devotion to each other. They took care of each other. They shared the same values and beliefs. They liked the same kind of restaurants, movies, and music. They enjoying traveling on road and camping trips. They did have their own interests like Dad with riding his horse and going hunting. Mom enjoyed reading and spending time with here sisters, other family, and friends. They gave each other space for those things. They agreed on just about everything except maybe what temperature to set the thermostat.
Mom's devotion to Dad was relentless. She took care of him as his health declined even as her own health started to decline. The story that is one of the best examples of this happened when she was 87 years old. She took a fall going outside to pick up the newspaper. She could not get up, Chayo did not hear her, and there were no neighbors around. She had to crawl back inside, but instead of getting to the phone first, she got up and got a pot of coffee started so it would be ready for Chayo. That was Chuy. Fortunately, she only suffered a hairline fracture.
Chayo would pass away on April 7th, 2017. It was a heartbreaking moment for her. She proudly accepted his American flag at his burial. She would miss him dearly for the nearly final two years of her life.
Her Children
Chuy and Chayo's first son Benny was born in September 22nd 1948. Their second son David (Tito) was born in November 14th 1949. Chuy was very much a working Mom in those early years of the 1950s. She would make sure they went school clean and well-dressed, although they did not always come back home that way. They grew in a house their Dad built on Slover Avenue on the same block as the grocery store and Chuy's parents house. They had dogs and their horse Sparky.
Benny would join the Navy, and David would get drafted in the Army. Chuy worried about them a great deal during this time, but fortunately they did not go to war zones as the Vietnam War was coming to an end.
Benny would have three sons from his first marriage: Benjamin Jr., Clifford, and Ryan. He would marry his wife Maria(Luly), and they would have two children: Adam and Raquel. Luly had two children from her first marriage: Vicente and Veronica.
David would marry Tina, and they had two children: Michelle and David Jr. Tina had a son from her first marriage: Lonnie.
Louie would be born much later on August 22nd, 1962. Chuy was 36 years old the time. Louie was named after Chuy's youngest brother Louie, who tragically died of heat stroke the year before. As he was the baby, she spoiled him the rest of her life. She was only working weekends at the grocery, and she would retire for good in the early 70s. So she was able spent more time with him. Louie would go to school in Phoenix, AZ moved out to Thousand Oaks and Canoga Park, CA. for his care, but he would always spend the weekends at home. Louie grow up in a new house across the street from the other house on Slover. In 1989, Chuy and Chayo moved to a new home in Southwest San Bernardino. They would live there the rest of their lives.
The Family
When Chuy married Chayo she became part of the Urquizu family. Chayo's mom Cuca, and his brothers, sisters, and their spouses: Henry and his wife Chelo; Albert (Beto) and his wife Lucille; Emmathita and husband Alfonso; Richard(Cuate) and wife Margie; Katherine (Cuate) and husband Ray; Gilbert (Goy) and wife Margaret; Johnny and wife Josie. Many nephews and nieces and others from the Urquizu family. She was
The Magana family also expanded as Chuy's brothers and sister married. Helena married Nemario; Armando married Margie; Juan married Sally; Margaret married Santos; Lucy married Humberto; Esther married Luis; and Tin married Amelia. Many nephews and nieces followed. There were other members of Magana family as well especially her Cousins from her Uncle Homer family who lived next door her Mom and Dads house.
She was godmother/Madrina to nieces Nayo and Christie.
There were many good times with the family. Regular gatherings at the Magana home on Sundays; Many other gatherings on the holidays, weddings, and anniversaries. They had memorable parties on their 50th and 65th anniversaries. There were camping trips including those with Cuate, Margie, and family. Many nephews and nieces would come along.
There were hard times too. Chuy and her sisters looked after their parents for many years as they became ill. This is an example they set for the next generation. Chuy would often help family members in time of need.
More about Chuy
Chuy's life was much about her marriage and her family, but she was much more. She was a believer in Jesus Christ, Roman Catholic, and prayed the rosary often. She had strong morals. She followed the footsteps of Jesus and cared about others. She helped charitably where she could. She was a generous tipper because she felt the workers worked hard and needed the money.
Chuy loved her country the United States of America. She was proud of her husband's and sons service to their country. She was always interested in what was happening in the country, and she witnessed many great events in history in her 92 years. Thanks to Chayo she got to see much of the country, especially the West. She would see Yosemite, Yellowstone, Mt. Rushmore, and many other places.
Chuy liked to read newspapers, magazines, and novels. She loved many kinds of music. She remembers fondly the Big Band Music, and she was a good dancer. Like Chayo, she enjoyed the classic county music. She would see in concert Roy Clark, Loretta Lynn, Conway Twitty, Marty Robbins and others. She enjoyed the standards especially as sung by Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, and later Rod Stewart and Michael Buble. She enjoyed see shows in Las Vegas such as Tom Jones and Engelbert Humperdinck. She liked Barbara Streisand, Andrea Bocelli, the ballads and gospel songs of Elvis and many others. Most of all she loved the old music of Mexico: the rancherias, Mariachis, and romances as sung by Vicente Fernandez, El Puma, and others.
Chuy loved to cook. She would recall that when she tried to make something for Chayo the first time it did not go well, but she would learn to be a good cook. Her family will have fond memories of her meatloaf, her macaroni and cheese, her waffles, her picadillo, her tamale pie, her spam con papas and salsa, her stuffing and camote(sweet potatoes) , her Champurrado for Christmas, and many others.
Chuy never drank or smoked or had any bad habits, but she would like to play the slots in Vegas and Laughlin. She and Chayo enjoyed many trips to Vegas and Laughlin especially many with Margie and Cuate. She enjoyed getting her hair done, not only to look nice, but for the conversation with friends.
The final years
The nearly two years after Chayo's death were difficult for Chuy not only because she missed him dearly, but also because her declining health kept her from doing what she was used to as a homemaker. She still did some cooking and other things though. Her sons would stay with her at the home in San Bernardino not only because of their promise to their Dad, but also because of the example Chuy had set for them. She would still enjoy going out for dinner, and getting her hair done at the Ye Olde Hair Stop in Rialto. She took comfort in listening to her favorite music, and also the country gospel songs. She enjoyed most of all spending time with her sisters, and talking on the phone with them and her sister-in-laws too. Her heart would be broken again when in December 2018 her youngest sister Lucy died of cancer. She would speak to the family at Lucy's wake and called for the family to stay together and love one another. Words she lived.
Chuy herself had cancer at that time. It was not diagnosed until late January 2019, and it was already in its late stages. On a beautiful Monday morning of February 11th, 2019 with her sons at her side , and at the very spot where her Chayo took his last breaths, she suddenly opened her eyes and took her last breath. She saw something wonderful. She smiled.
She is at peace with the Lord and back together with Chayo where she belongs.
We will miss you Chuy. We love you Mom. See you soon.
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