Maria Eugenia Lopez

Maria Eugenia Ramirez de Lopez, living a full 62 years in the beautiful Beach town of Oceanside California. On March 24th she transcended to her eternal rest after a long fought battle with kidney cancer.

Eugenia was also known to many close friends and family members as “Maru”, she entered this beautiful world during a spring day on April 30th, 1960 at the old Oceanside Hospital on Horne Street. Maru is survived by her loving husband Raul Joseph Lopez of (39 years of Marriage), Son Joey, his fiance Monica and grandson little Joey. Sons Marcus and Dominic and Daughter Bianca. Her mother Luz Maria, and her siblings Concepcion, Anna, Sam, Lucy, Betty, and Angelica. Eugenia was preceded in death by her Father Samuel.

Eugenia was deeply rooted in her Mexican culture and was so proud to have been raised on a Ranchito in the middle of Oceasnide, right next to the old Valley Drive-ins. Her Father Samuel was the caretaker of the property for over 45 years where she and her mother worked alongside her siblings during their teen years.

Eugenia would often visit México (Aguascalientes, Jalostotitlán , and Guadalajara) to spend time with family from both sides of her parents, leaving and taking a piece of herself every time. It was some of the most joyous and impressionable experiences of her childhood and young adult life.

In 1979 she graduated from Oceanside High School and then in 1981 she started working for Gemco, a well known department store. She was then Married two years later on August 13th, 1983 to Raul Joseph Lopez. During this time she became manager of Fashion Gal and began raising her children. In 1987 she began working at Mission San Luis Rey Parish as a Bilingual Secretary in the religious education department. In 2006 she began working at El Camino High School as a Community Service Advisor and Bilingual Interpreter Translator. In 2016 Eugenia was motivated to go back to school and build her knowledge in higher education, through this she began to work at Mira Costa College as an instructional aide (paraprofessional) which lit a fire inside her to become a teacher.

She had a constant passion for learning, whether it be through institutions or conversations with people. At the time Eugenia was diagnosed with cancer she was attending Point Loma Nazarene University, and studying child development in hopes of becoming an elementary school teacher. In her years leading up to her acceptance into PLNU, she earned an AA and other Certificates in Child Development, Linguistics, and Photography at Mira Costa Community College. Her Family was everything and would ultimately take first priority over anything, and she would fondly say that her main profession was as a Domestic Engineer.

Eugenia was all about giving back to the community that helped her and shaped her, which led to many active volunteer roles. She was involved in Scouts, Census, various sport teams, Reynolds Elementary, MLK middle school, and El Camino High School. Her most rewarding and yet emotionally difficult volunteer activity was TIP, Trauma Intervention Program.

She was a strong and constant advocate for those in her community who were marginalized, could not speak on their own behalf, and to all her neighbors who were less fortunate. Even as a young school girl she would help her friends and classmates by standing up against the bullies who attacked them. These moments led to much respect for Eugenia and long standing friendships built on loyalty. She had the biggest heart and so much love to give as well as a fierce spirit you did not want to encounter.