Emma Vega Ramirez, 84 passed peacefully into the arms of the Lord on Saturday, May 12, 2018 at Our Lady of Fatima Villa in Saratoga, Ca after many years battling dementia; her son Stephen was by her side. Emma was born in Salem, New Mexico on May 1, 1934 and was the youngest of 8 children born to Francisco Aguliar Vega and Guadalupe Lopez Vega. Emma graduated from Gonzales High School in 1952, where she met her future husband Humberto. Emma and Humberto married in 1957 after Humberto returned from his service in the US Navy; the couple originally settled in Pacific Grove where Humberto worked at the Post Office, and the couple had 3 children. In 1977 they moved to Campbell, CA in search of better weather and opportunities for their children; during this time, Emma became deeply interested in genealogy and started researching her family tree; she was able to trace her family back 5 generations. She frequently sat with her father and sisters talking about family stories and distance relatives. Emma was a devout Catholic and took great pleasure in reading all types of spiritual and prayer books – she leaves behind a spiritual library of 100’s of books.
Emma is preceded in death by her parents Francisco and Guadalupe Vega, her siblings Baby Magdalena Vega, Baby Guadalupe Vega, Baby Francisco Vega, Baby Maria Vega, Augustine Vega, Maggie Dominguez (Florencio), Lupe Lugo (Gilbert), her nephews Richard Lugo and Paul Vega, and her niece Alicia Vega.
Emma leaves behind her husband of 60 years, Humberto Arias Ramirez, her children Stephen Anthony, Vincent Thomas (Anita) and Lisa Ann, and her beloved “precious” grandson Vincent Michael, her nieces and nephews Lydia Araujo (Manuel), Joe Dominguez (Margret), Barbara Bernesser (Daniel), Art Dominguez, Michael Dominguez (Becky), Gilbert Lugo Jr., Robert Lugo (Lita), Ruben Lugo, Gloria Simonetti (Larry), Martha Lugo, Gus Vega Jr, Patrick Vega, Phillip Vega, Margret Vega, Maria Vega, Rosa Vega, and numerous grandnieces and grandnephews.
During the 4 months Emma lived at Fatima Villa she had a guardian angel in Sister Lynn Gutteridge. Sister Lynn would visit Emma throughout the day sharing conversation, and at times pushing the call button when Emma was in need of help. The family cannot adequately express our gratitude to Sister Lynn for her kindness towards mom, who was so vulnerable, during times when the family could not be there. Lynn sat with the family every day during the 8 long days Emma labored to die.
The family would like to thank Sue Mase, Emma’s caregiver, for her endless patience and kindness working with Emma, and keeping her clean and safe. Sue was an unexpected gift from God during a time when we, and Emma, needed help. Sue we thank you for sitting with us the week that mom labored – your benevolence will always be remembered.
We would also like to thank Paul and Esther Chavez, Humberto’s nephew and his wife, for visiting Emma, driving Humberto to the hospital, and sitting with the family during Emma’s final week.
Thank you to Our Lady of Fatima Villa and the 30 nurses and caregivers who took take care of Emma in her final days. Thank you to the Season’s Hospice team who helped Emma, and her family, find comfort during mom’s final months.
And finally, thank you mom for taking such good care of your family – we were more than a handful, but you were always there for us. You were so strong in your final week, just like you were in the rest of your life; I guess we should not have been surprised. We take comfort that you are raised up with the Lord, and are no longer in pain. We miss you more than words can possibly express.
Family and friends are invited to a visitation on Friday, May 25th from 5pm to 8pm with rosary at 7pm at Lima Family Santa Clara Mortuary. A funeral mass will be held in Emma’s honor on Saturday, May 26th at St. Thomas of Canterbury Catholic Church at 11am, interment to follow at Santa Clara Mission Cemetery.
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