Julie V. Granado

Julie Vivian Arreola was born on Dec., 15 1934 in Shafter California. She was the second of seven children (Beatrice, Adeline, Lillian, Jennie, Terri and Richard) the Arreola family was blessed with. Her Father, Julio Lara Arreola was from Eastland, Texas, who was a very hard worker that tended to the family business and managed local vineyards. Her mother, Elisa Escarsega from Mesilla, New Mexico, worked for the health department and gave much of her time to the Church. Julie and her siblings were raised in a two bedroom and one bath house in an area of Shafter called “La Colonia”. The Colonia was a Mexican neighborhood where the smell of wet alfalfa and the sounds of livestock were commonplace. Julie was very responsible in helping her parents, sisters and brother in any way she could. All of the Arreola children remained very close throughout their lives. Julie graduated from Shafter High School in 1954 and began her career with Bank of America. A few years later she met the love of her life, Joseph Granado, through her cousin Vivian. Vivian Escarcega and Joseph’s cousin Paul Curiel married soon thereafter. Julie and Joseph fell in love and decided to get married and join their dreams. In 1959 they were married at St. Teresa Catholic Church in Shafter and took up residence in San Jose, Ca. Julie and Joe, Jennie and John, Vivian and Paul would often get together, while the husbands sang and played the guitar. In April of 1960 and Julie gave birth to the first of her two boys, Randolph Martin. In 1964 they were blessed with their second son Robert Stephen. That same year they purchased their first home in Santa Clara, Ca. Julie continued to work as a Bank Teller for Bank of America and volunteered for many of her son’s activities; such as, little league and cub scouts. She retired from B of A in 1993. Joseph worked in the electronic communications industry in the early 1960’s and retired in 1990 from Lockheed Martin. He was very organized and would take night classes to further his education and keep his edge sharp. Julie was adamant about taking frequent trips back to Shafter and always stayed in close communication with all of her family. Her mother Elisa (Nani) would always lighten up when Julie came home. The local Shafter families would gather and stay up late into the night talking and laughing. Elisa always got very upset when it came time for Julie to leave and would cry hard. Julie’s two sisters Terri and Jennie also lived in San Jose and the three were inseparable. This made holiday get-togethers extra special and unforgettable for all three families.

Church was every Sunday - no exception for Julie. She had the Ten Commandments etched in her heart and her prayers were unceasing. She was also an excellent cook like the rest of her sisters. The food was so good Joseph could often be heard saying: “Jewels you’re gonna kill me!” The Granado family eventually settled in Saratoga in 1976. In 1980, Julie was hit with the lost of her mother Elisa. Shafter was never the same but the Arreola family remained very close. By the 1980’s Julie and Joseph’s investments in real estate were paying off and they acquired multiple homes and rental properties. Randy and Robert benefitted from their mother’s faith, love and strong constitution as well as their father’s wisdom and determination as they grew into men. They both began careers in high technology and eventually acquired real estate themselves. In 1982, Randy married Cecilia Albert, and in 1987 Julie became a grandmother for the first time with the birth of Stefan Albert. In 1990 she was blessed with her second grandchild, Kalin Patrice. She instilled strong faith and love in her grandchildren which they will carry with them forever. She loved her grandchildren and during the day she would watch them while Randy and Cecilia worked. In 1999, Joseph was diagnosed with prostate cancer and in 2001 Julie was diagnosed with Large Cell Lymphoma. Through their faith, the Lord gave them strength and Julie overcame Large Cell Lymphoma. Joseph fought a valiant fight until 2005 when the Lord called him home. Robert continued to live in the family home with Mom so that he could fulfill his promise to his Pop to take care of the love of his (Joseph) life. Julie also lost her sisters Jennie and Terri, her mother-in-law Frances and her brother-in-law John in the following years. Robert and the love of his life Donita Marie were married in 2010. Robert and Donita continued to take great care of Mom as the three of them lived together until the Lord called her home. Throughout her life Julie was always smiling, very positive and showed great love for her family. Her most frequent departing phrases were, “Have a Good Week”, and “May the Lord Bless You and Keep His Holy Hand Upon You”.