Frances Juanita Lara

1/12/1937 – 6/26/2025

Beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and great-great-grandmother.

Frances was born in Los Angeles, California to Felix Juanes and Antonia (Montosa) Juanes.

Frances (often called Fran) grew up in Sunnyvale, California and graduated from Fremont High School.

She married Joseph Anthony Lara on September 11, 1957.

Together they had three children and along with Joseph’s two older children they made a loving family of seven.

Frances was a housewife and later worked for the Sunnyvale School District at the child-care center and then in the main office copy room.

She attended St. Lawrence the Martyr Catholic Church where she volunteered and often gave rides to several of her friends.

Frances loved family camping trips, especially the yearly trips to Lake Tahoe.

She had an adventurous spirit and had the time of her life when she went on a European vacation.

She was always up for a trip to the ocean where she would wander through the shops, have her favorite seafood and enjoy the day.

Family and friends enjoyed the foods she would make for them, notably her Chinese chicken salad, green salad, jello salads and special sandwiches, all made with love.

She also made delicious Montecado Spanish cookies from an old family recipe.

Frances leaves behind her children Francine Gaeta, Joseph (wife Pamela) Lara, Carolyn (husband Paul) Zrodlo, Roxy Lara-Shaw (husband Tom), and Gary (wife Aimee) Lara, and her 12 grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren, and 1 great-great grandchild as well as numerous other family and friends.

She loved her family dearly and will be greatly missed.

A religious ceremony for Frances will be held Friday, July 18, 2025 from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM at Saint Lawrence the Martyr Catholic Parish, 1971 St Lawrence Dr, Santa Clara, CA 95051. Following the religious ceremony will be a committal service from 12:30 PM to 1:30 PM at Santa Clara Mission Cemetery, 490 Lincoln St, Santa Clara, CA 95050.