Mrs. Leandra C. Aguilar

September 3, 1928 - March 1, 2020

For 91 years, Leandra (Lee) C. Aguilar was wife, mom, grandma, and great grandmother to a lucky few. To everyone else, she was the kind, short, feisty lady who lived in Stockton off of Wilson Avenue. Lee regularly attended church, police meetings, and neighborhood watch get togethers. And she was never one to miss bringing food for a potluck. But you know who she was. It’s the lasting memories that will keep her alive. One of Grandma Lee‘s favorite songs was “Let it Be” by the Beatles.

“When I find myself in times of trouble,

Mother Mary comes to me,

Speaking words of wisdom, let it be.

And in my hour of darkness,

She is standing right in front of me,

Speaking words of wisdom, let it be.

Let it be, let it be.

Whisper words of wisdom, let it be.”

Lee, age 91, peacefully left her earthly family after a series of traumatic surgeries she suffered through due to a devastating fall. For 65 years, she was the devoted wife of Joe M. Aguilar and loving mother to son, Tom Aguilar and wife Kathi Aguilar, and daughters, Jimmy (Betty) Mencuso, and Patty (Michael) Partridge. She leaves behind nine grandchildren – Theressa (Will) Linton, Thomas (Nikki), Christina, Michelle (Jan) Mencuso, John, Briana, Gabriella, and Nicole – and four great grandchildren – Amanda, Ella, Cas, and Cesley. And one beloved dog Cooper.

“And when the broken-hearted people,

Living in the world agree,

There will be an answer, let it be.

For though they may be parted there is

Still a chance that they will see,

There will be an answer, let it be.

Let it be, let it be. Yeah.

There will be an answer, let it be.”

We are never truly ready to say goodbye. But we can rejoice in the comfort of not letting one fleeting moment pass where we didn’t make each day count. Grandma Lee was always on the go. She was the first one to tell you just how busy she was! Keeping busy, keeping active, and living at home with her little fuzzy son gave her the will and motivation to thank God for each morning she was given.

From recordings her grandson John made of Lee, she said, “It takes family to be close. And that’s what counts! I think to myself each one of us has our own problem, and the family is big. The children are coming up. And when we have children, we got to worry about how they’re coming up so it’s up to (them). Being a mother, and being a father, or being a grandchild is a big job. Nowadays, it requires love and patience and really a lot of fortitude. I wish my grandchildren the best God has to offer them. My great grandchildren, they’ll be coming up and they’re going to need every help they can get from their parents and from their grandparents, and from their cousins.”

“I love my children, I love my church, grandchildren and my great grandchildren to my nieces and my nephews. They look out for me and do for me. I wish them all the best, cause it’s rough out there and if we could help our kids along this hard road that’s wonderful. We got to bend over for them. Even though we feel like they could do it themselves… I still feel that deep down we are all small kids and deep down we all need help.”

“If we have God in our heart, then that’s all that we really need. That’s it…”

To many she was a firecracker. She was a feisty fighter. She might not have thought that she was beautiful; in her view, her nose was too long, and she hated being seen without make up, but behind that powdered face and those ebony pin-curled locks, remained an icon.

“And when the night is cloudy,

There is still a light that shines on me,

Shine on until tomorrow, let it be.

I wake up to the sound of music,

Mother Mary comes to me,

Speaking words of wisdom, let it be.

Let it be, let it be.

There will be an answer, let it be.

Let it be, let it be,

Whisper words of wisdom, let it be.“

Yes, Mother Mary is watching over her, and all of us. And along with her favorite saint, Saint Jude, she will live on in beautiful memories. As her granddaughter Briana put it, “She always made me feel loved, and she was always there for people.” Yes she did, is, and will be. Grandma Lee was always quick to remind us about coming dressed up to anything we did, looking clean and neat, with our hair combed and ready to put on the dog. She looks just as beautiful today.

The perfect concluding thought is a quote she was often heard saying, “To be remembered is beautiful, but to be forgotten is sad.”

“Say hello to everybody, and Cooper. Take care. God be with you.”

“Heavenly Father, bless (my family). Father in Heaven, see that no harm comes to (them), and bless (them). Be with (them) Guide (them). In YOUR name. Amen. Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. God love you.”

Visitation will be at Frisbie-Warren & Carroll Mortuary- 809 N California St, Stockton, CA 95202, on Wednesday, March 18th, 2020 from 4 to 6PM, with a Rosary starting at 6PM.

Funeral mass will take place at Saint Gertrude‘s Catholic Church 1663 E. Main St., Stockton on Thursday, March 19th, 2020 at 11AM.

Burial to follow at San Joaquin Catholic Cemetery, 719 E Harding Way, Stockton, CA 95204.

“Though I know I'll never lose affection

For people and things that went before

I know I'll often stop and think about them

In my life I'll love you more

In my life I'll love you more.” (The Beatles, In My Life)