Theresa Ann Ybarra

The Sanchez and Ybarra families sadly share the passing of Theresa Ybarra, a dear sister, aunt, and godmother. With great hope and courage, she battled ovarian cancer since 2014 until it took her life only one month away from her 88th birthday. She died on February 26 with her extensive family by her side.

She was born Theresa Ann Sanchez, March 27, 1934, to long-time San Bernardino residents, Leo Nicholas and Macedonia “Maxie” Sanchez, who predeceased her. She was fifth of eleven children; five passed away: Leo Edward Sanchez, Christopher Sanchez, Emiliano Sanchez, Joseph Sanchez and Mary Sanchez. She has six surviving siblings: Josephine Zanone, Rita Sanchez Griswold, Angelica Stinnett, Emily Mikkelson, Severo Sanchez and sister-in-law Helen Quesada.

Theresa, nicknamed Teri, graduated from San Bernardino High School, Class of ‘52. She was active in the famous Dutch Hauschildt performing choir, and part of the many programs given by the award-winning chorus. Teri played the violin in the SBHS orchestra. She met her future husband, Robert (Bob) Ybarra, at a high school football game. They were team rivals; he was a Colton varsity athlete; she wore his Letterman sweater. Their theme song was “They tried to tell us we’re too young,” by Nat King Cole. They were married in 1953, separated by war; when Bob shipped out to Japan during the Korean War, and Teri lived with his family until his return.

At 19, she became a working woman, devoted wife, and traveling companion. She worked with her husband, first at Norton Airforce Base in San Bernardino at the onset of the Jet Age. Her twenty years of service as production control specialist, included a major move to McClellan Air Force Base in Sacramento that led to a fulfilling career, an early retirement, and a split-level home in Fair Oaks.

Retired in their early fifties, they proceeded to travel. Teri enjoyed skiing with Bob and meeting with friends at Park City, Utah, before it became the site for the U.S. Olympics; and Snow Mass, Aspen Colorado; Heavenly Valley and Squaw Valley, California. Even when she broke her leg in a skiing accident, she recovered to enjoy the adventurous sport for many more years. Her nieces and nephews recall that they learned to ski because their Uncle Bob and Aunt Teri included them in one of their ski trips.

They also visited every state in the union and all the U.S. National Parks where they left behind a string of close friendships. They belonged to RV Clubs and the Elks Lodge. They met at favorite spots like Yosemite, Bodega Bay, and once drove to Cabo San Lucas, on the Sea of Cortez to La Paz and Mazatlan. They visited friends they had grown to love and continued to nourish, even as seniors. Many of them were present in 2003 when the Sanchez and Ybarra families joined together to help celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary, a highlight of their life.

Theresa was widowed at her husband’s passing in 2018. Until then, they cared for one another in sickness and in health; she was always by his side when he had a series of heart attacks; and he was with her when she underwent surgery and chemotherapy. She was at his bedside in their home when Bob took his last breath. After that, Theresa was determined to be an independent woman. She kept going due to her feisty spirit and upbeat sense of humor and because her godchildren lifted her spirits whether through prayer or including her in family events.

Not having a child of her own, Nina, as she was affectionately called, was a hands-on godmother; and she was Aunt Teri to many nieces and nephews who were the beneficiaries of special adventures, planned just for them: Monica Havins, Cynthia Hasenberg, Regina Mountain, Richard Zanone, Charles Zanone, Serena Zanone, Joanna Reindel, Paul Zanone, Lisa LaRossa, Teyana Viscarra, Lucia Gonzales, Pablo Acevedo, Joseph Sanchez Jr., John Sanchez, Margaret Godoy, Marie Chatterton, Celine Monninger, Jude Sanchez, Nick Sanchez, Tom Bennett, Greg Bennett, Christopher Stinnett, Brian Sanchez, Aaron Mikkelson, Alisha Mikkelson, Clare Tan, Blaise Mikkelson, Nathan Mikkelson, Gabriel Mikkelson, Anne Segura Valdez, Susan Ybarra, Dennis Ybarra (deceased), Linda Quesada Blair, Judy Ybarra Justice, Ben Ybarra, Orlanda Ybarra-Oberrecht, Ernesto Ybarra, Clinton Hough and Carol Hough.

Always a woman of deep faith, parishioners remember Theresa as an active member of St. Mel’s Catholic Church of Fair Oaks, where she sang in the choir. Family and community recall her generous sharing of home-baked persimmon cookies, chile verde, posole, and fresh walnuts she gifted to others. On Christmas Eve she loved to sing the festive carols with her sisters, to share mounds of pan dulce (sweet bread), and the richest handmade tamales she learned to make with the Ybarra’s.

Theresa’s greatest gift, though, was her discipleship, and the many friends and family who joined in her devotion to Jesus, her lord and savior. Her family, who often participated with her in prayer, adoration, and rosaries, will miss her strong and determined faith, from which she never wavered.

Please join the Sanchez and Ybarra families in celebrating the life of Theresa Ybarra at a Rosary at 9:30am and Mass of the Resurrection at 10:00am both at St. George Catholic Church, 17895 San Bernardino Avenue, Fontana, California 92335. She will be laid to rest with her husband at Montecito Memorial Park, 3520 E. Washington Street, Colton, California.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.montecitomemorialparkandmortuary.com for the Ybarra family.