Javier Zendejas

Francisco Javier Zendejas was born on September 5, 1949 in the City of Curimeo, Michoacan, Mexico. Better known as “Javier,” or “Javi,” he was the eldest of 11 children born to Ninfa Guerrero and Genaro Lopez Zendejas. On July 13, 1965, he and four of his brothers, and one sister immigrated to the United States, arriving in the City of Chino, California. At the age of 15, he began working full time picking oranges, grapefruit and grapes to help support the family. At night he would attend both adult and private school. He would later work constructing trailers in Chino before working for Kaiser Steel in Fontana, California. In 1976, Javier married Esperanza “Hope” Garnica and immediately became a father to Danny and Andrew Sanchez. In 1974, Javier and Hope had their first daughter, Graciela Zendejas and their second daughter Leanna Zendejas was born in 1978.

In 1981, Javier helped open the first Zendejas Mexican Restaurant, in Chino, California where he worked as a manager until he, along with his brothers Tony and Martin, sister Celina, and his mother Ninfa, opened Zendejas Mexican Restaurant in the City of San Dimas, California in 1988. Javier was absolutely loved and adored by both his employees and customers to whom he was always so welcoming and giving of himself. In addition to working at the restaurant, he helped his family by caring for his grandchildren and taking them to and from school. Javier and his wife would operate the San Dimas location until they retired in October of 2025.

He is survived, by his wife Hope, his two daughters Grace and Leeanna, his grandchildren Bryan Sanchez, Angel Quezada, Reylene Martinez, Priscilla Quezada, and Reyes Martinez, as well as his brothers Jose Luis, Genaro, Eduardo, Raul, and Tony and sisters Maria Dolores, Celina and Claudia as well as many nieces and nephews.

A viewing will be held at St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church, 14085 Peyton Dr., Chino Hills, CA 91709, on April 15, 2026, from 5:00 pm to 8:30 pm.

A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church, 14085 Peyton Dr., Chino Hills, CA 91709, on April 16, 2026, at 11:00 am.

Final resting place will follow at Bellevue Memorial Park, 1240 W G St., Ontario, CA 91762, on April 16, 2026, at 1:00 pm.