Fresno Ca. Passed away February 25,2026 at Fresno
Community Hospital.
Maria graduated from Fresno High, CLADIC Seminary in
Los Angeles and Fresno Pacific University. She majored in
education to become a teacher. She taught elementary
school in Fresno Unified School District, was head of the
Language Assessment Center for Fresno Unified School
District and she was Adjunct faculty for Fresno Pacific
University.
Maria is preceded in death by her father Renato Gutierrez
and her brother Rene David Gutierrez. She is survived by
her husband Manuel Blancas, daughter Alicia Blancas-
Shih, son Joshua Blancas, son-in-law Albert Shih,
granddaughter Madeleine Blancas-Shih, grandson
Sebastian Blancas-Shih, mother Ruth Woods, sisters
Laura Steiner and Yolanda Alvarez.
Maria was known for being compassionate for the
success of her students, student teachers that she
mentored and her colleagues in the language assessment
center.
Maria enjoyed singing, art, music and learning other
languages. She was a lifelong learner.
A Celebration of Life Service will be held at Funeraria Del Angel Fresno, 475 North Broadway, Fresno, CA 93701, US, on March 7, 2026, from 10:00 am to 11:00 am.
A Committal will take place at Fresno Memorial Gardens, 175 S Cornelia Ave, Fresno, CA 93706, US, on March 7, 2026, from 11:30 am to 12:30 pm.
