Julia Blascruz

Thursday December 19, 2024 4:00-8:00 pm viewing and reception

Location: El Camino Memorial5600 Carroll Canyon Rd, SanDiego, CA 92121

Friday, Dec 20,2024 11:00-12:00pm Services at El Camino Memorial

1:15-1:35pm

Burial is at Miramar National Cemetery Location:

5795 Nobel Dr, San Diego,CA

We celebrate the life of Julia Blascruz. Mrs. Blascruz was born on July 30, 1935 to Amparo Leon Guerrero (Paapa clan), and Adam Crisostomo Blas (Kudi clan) on the Pacific Island Guåhan/Guam. She passed away in San Diego, California on November 24, 2024 in her home surrounded by her loving children and grandchildren. Julia Blascruz was a daughter, sister, mother, wife, grandmother, great

grandmother, great great grandmother, college educator, business owner, gardener, and actively

engaged in her community. Very proud of her Chamoru heritage, Julia’s grandparents on her maternal side were Maria Leon Guerrero, and Juan Cruz and on her paternal side they were Rosa Crisostomo and Jesus Santos Blas. Her family village in Guåhan is Barrigada, where she grew up on the family ranch helping her family raise chickens, grow food, plant trees such as mango, avocado and plumeria/kålåchucha. She loved drinking coffee made with fresh rainwater. Her favorite fruit as a child on the island was the åtes (the custard apple). For the family home in San Diego, she grew a beautiful orchard of apple, pomegranate, plum, lemon trees, and a garden with pika denne’ (pepper), eggplant,

watermelon, avocado, calla lilies, peach hibiscus, and more. She brought the sacred connection

Chamoru people have with food and nature with her to California.

Her siblings included Eddie, Teresita, Jesse, Mary, Rosa along with Johnny, Jesusa. She gave

birth to eight children named John (spouse Sandy), Jerome, June (spouse Micheal Garcia),

Nora, John Jr, Patrick (spouse Elizabeth), Micheal and Natalia/Princessa (spouse Zaldy Guerzon).

She married Juan Benevente Cruz in 1958 for 30 years, and in 1997 she married Enrique Cruz

for 23 years.

Her children admired her courage, confidence, strength, arresting beauty, countless talents, and

many achievements. While she endured the trauma of WWII as a child, she was resilient and

remained proud of her island and people. With her husband Juan Benevente Cruz, they

migrated the family to San Diego in 1965 for more social and economic opportunities. Some of

her accomplishments include earning a BA in Business Administration (1980) and MA in Public

Administration with an emphasis in Government Relations and Politics (1981) from National

University. She taught college classes and launched a successful insurance business, and then

later worked as a bereavement counselor at El Camino. Her children all mentioned the sense of

awe they felt watching her in her element.

Julia Blascruz was also a pillar for the San Diego Guam clubs. She lived into the Chamoru value

of inafa’ maolek which translates into “to make good” that is about cooperation, social support,

and reciprocity with kin and the natural environment. She taught her family about respetu which

is about affording elders their prestige and respect through manginge. Julia Blascruz

demonstrated this service through volunteering at voting booths, helping people file taxes; and

crocheting her family many colorful blankets. She also advocated for her children at school and

encouraged their interests as well as educational pursuits. A devout member of Good Shepherd

Catholic Church, she along with family attended for many years.

Julia Blascruz will also be remembered for her masterful Chamoru culinary skills. Her chalakiles,

shrimp patties, finá denné, red rice, chicken kélaguen, kaddon, estufao, titijas, banana donuts,

carrot cake and more are legendary.

Families should invest in their children, she believed, and avidly encouraged education for her

children and grandchildren. Julia Blascruz modeled this with earning degrees herself and

advising her family about educational decisions. She also took international trips with family to

places such as Germany, France, England, Switzerland. There were many memorable road trips

for special occasions and family visits. What she was most proud of was her children, and her

educational attainments against many odds.

Her children and grandchildren have fond memories of her love of dance, music and laughter.

Some of her favorite music included Johnny Matthis, Paul Anka, Connie Francis and Chamoru

music. She also danced the jitterbug and made sure her family knew how to Chamorro cha cha.

Julia Blascruz insisted her family never forget their island homeland of Guam.

The family would like to thank her children Micheal, June and Princessa for taking care of her in

the sunset of her life. It gifted her peace to be nourished, bathed and loved by them. In turn,

they cherished the time they had with their mom.

Julia Blascruz will be greatly missed but fiercely remembered, and forever held in the hearts of

her family in the United States and on the islands for many generations to come.

Her grandchildren from John (Peggy & Sandy) include: Johnathen, Judy, Sarah, Jermaine, John

Stanley and Julia. From Jerome (Laarni) include: Amparo, Adam, Mariana and Elijah. From June

(Michael Garcia) include: Joseph. From Nora (Isaac Banks & Oliver McKinney) include: Matthew,

Ojeya, Tre’ and Michael. From John Jr. (Elizabeth) include: John-John and Degee From Patrick

(Elizabeth) include: Eric, Erica, Patrick Jr., and Patricia. From Princessa (Zaldy Guerzon) include:

Ashley and Austin.

Great Grandchildren include: Nathen, Courtney, Morgan, Remington, Kalani, Leilani, Kona,

Thomas, Anika, Alohalani, Tayten, Dakota, Nalaya, Marques, Mario, Odin, Dallen, Kyiden, Roxen,

Gerard, Gemmalyn, Tyshon Jr., River, Mariela, Joseph Gabriel, Jacob, Penelope, Awa, Mya,

Riahllen, John, Andrea, Samiya, Julia, Julius, Jameson, Sophia and Lou. Great Great

Grandchildren include: Charlotte, Zoey and Harper.

*Artist credit of the painting of Julia Blascruz by Asja Dawn (2024) commissioned by

granddaughter Ojeya Cruz Banks