Maria Luisa Montijo

Maria Luisa Ahumada was born to Luis Ahumada Perez (born in Tepic, Nayarit), and Maria Guzman Bonilla (born in Concordia, Sinaloa), on Friday, July 20, 1923 in El Rosario, Sinaloa. She lived in El Rosario, Sinaloa; Acaponeta, Nayarit; Cajeme (now Ciudad Obregon), Sonora; Ensenada, Baja California; Isla de Cedros, Baja California; Guaymas, Sonora; Mexicali, Baja California; Tijuana, Baja California and Otay (now Chula Vista), California. Maria Luisa's siblings were Chavela, Chuy, Vicente, Luis, Lupe, Nati, Juan, Chepina, Bayo, Paca and Celia.

Maria Luisa married the love of her life, Ignacio Montijo Ortiz, in 1942 - becoming Maria Luisa Montijo. Ignacio preceded Maria Luisa in death in 2008. They were married for 65 years. Maria Luisa's children are Javier Montijo, deceased (father of Leonor, Rosalinda, Javier Jr., Cecilia and Liliana); Georgina Montijo (mother of Veronica [deceased], Lorena and Eric); Grace Montijo (mother of Lucy and Adrianna); Rosa (Montijo) Castanieto, deceased (mother of Joey, Angela and Michael) and Beatriz (Montijo) Baumann (mother of Freddie and Diana).

Maria Luisa had an incredibly interesting and full life. She, her mother and her siblings had bombs dropped on them during their time in Cajeme, narrowly escaping injury and death. She worked in the canneries on the Pacific in Baja California, and after she and her family moved to the United States in 1957, she picked produce in the fields and worked in local packing sheds. During her youth, Maria Luisa sang live on the radio with her sister, Chepina, in Mexicali. She was a cancer survivor.

To her five children, Maria Luisa was "Ama." To her 15 grandchildren and resulting great grandchildren, great, great grandchildren and great, great, great grandchildren, she was "Nana." And to her countless nieces and nephews, Maria Luisa was "Tia Luisa."

Maria Luisa knew her way around the kitchen. She was known for her delicious mole and her unbelievably tasty flour tortillas.

Maria Luisa lived for celebrating and spending time with family. Between parties at her son, Javier's, house and gatherings at her daughter, Gina's, house in addition to birthday parties all year long, she was ALWAYS celebrating and having fun. Then, of course, there were the holidays. Thanksgiving was always at Maria Luisa's house as was Christmas Eve. There was turkey and ham and all the traditional sides for Thanksgiving and for Christmas, Maria Luisa made menudo, pozole and tostadas. Both holidays saw a VERY FULL Montijo Family home.

Maria Luisa loved to travel and her children made sure she spent her time doing just that. In particular, Javier made sure she spent MANY holiday weekends camping at the beach in La Joya (Ensenada) and Gina saw to it that Maria Luisa visited Manzanillo, Puerto Vallarta, Acapulco, Ixtapa and Cancun. While he was alive, Ignacio took Maria Luisa on cruises and took her to Hawaii. She loved the ocean.

Whether she is remembered for her cooking, for being a good neighbor in Otay, for the Double Mint Gum she was always chewing, for the smile she always displayed or for being the best daughter, sister, wife, aunt, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, great, great grandmother, great, great, great grandmother, comadre, godmother, friend or lady in Otay who planted that big tree on Main Street, she WILL be remembered. And loved. Always.

Tuesday, January 24, 2023: Viewing at Glen Abbey in Bonita from 5PM to 9PM. 3838 Bonita Road, Bonita, CA 91902

Tuesday, January 24, 2023: Rosary at Glen Abbey in Bonita at 6PM. 3838 Bonita Road, Bonita, CA 91902

Wednesday, January 25, 2023: Funeral Mass at Our Lady of Guadalupe Roman Catholic Church in Otay at 11AM. 345 Anita St, Chula Vista, CA 91911

Wednesday, January 25, 2023: Burial at Glen Abbey - Cemetery Block 79A.at 12:30 PM. 3838 Bonita Road, Bonita, CA 91902