Ms. Lenora Guadalupe Gaitan Ambriz

Lenora Guadalupe Ambriz, 72, of Hanford, CA died peacefully in her home after a year long battle with leukemia. She was a Teacher Born to Fred and Beatrice Gaitan in 1937, she was raised on a farm with her sisters Josie and Lydia. She married Jess Ambriz in 1957 and in 1965 they moved to San Jose with their daughter, Patricia. While working as a yard duty supervisor, Lenora showed a special talent for working with learning impaired children. She worked as a teacher’s aide until her son Cristobal was born in 1971. In the 1980's, she was a substitute teacher in many of the Special Education schools all over the Santa Clara County. In 1987, she began teaching in the Juvenile Court System where her special kind of "tough love" helped many lost young people find their way to productive, meaningful lives. She retired to Hanford in 2004 to be close to her two sisters, Josephine Thomas and Lydia Moran and a large extended family. Her fondest memories include stories of three little girls growing up on a farm, Saturday night dances at the Fraternal Hall and Sunday afternoons at Superior Dairy for ice cream.

During her retirement she enjoyed traveling including trips to Ireland, Greece and Alaska. Her home is surrounded by beautiful gardens she planted and groomed herself. Sundays, she enjoyed singing in the choir at St. Brigids Church.

Among many family and friends that will miss her, are her daughter in law, Lianna and her son in law, Ted and her 3 grandchildren, Nick, Camille and Alexis

Visitation will be held at People’s Funeral Chapel, 501 N. Douty Street in Hanford, California on Friday, July 23, 2010 from 5 – 7:30 p.m. Recitation of Holy Rosary will begin at 7:30 p.m. at People’s Funeral Chapel. Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, July 24, 2010 at 9 a.m. at St. Brigids Catholic Church, 200 W. Florinda Street in Hanford, California. Burial will follow at Calvary Cemetery of Hanford.

In Lieu of flowers, her family kindly requests donations to the American Cancer Society, 1710 Webster St., Oakland, CA 94612 or (800)227-2345.

Condolences may be offered at www.peoplesfuneralchapel.com.

Arrangements are entrusted to People’s Funeral Chapel, 501 N. Douty St., Hanford, CA 93230 (559) 584-5591.