Frances Gonzales Magana

Frances G. Magana, also known as Kika, Tia Kika, Aunt Frances, and as a young woman “Green Eyes”. Frances left her temporary home to her permanent home with the Lord to His mansion in the sky. She passed away suddenly and unexpectedly on Monday evening, April 27, 2015, at St. John’s Regional Medical Center, Oxnard, in the emergency room due to congestive heart failure and vascular disease, a trait inherited from her father’s side of the family. She was 83 years old.

Francisca Pillado Gonzales was born on February 2, 1932, in Rocky Ford, Colorado, to Calletano Gallegos Gonzales and Felipa Jordan Pillado. Frances was the oldest of nine children. She was of Spanish-Judeo-Mexican ancestry but was proud to be an American and live in the United States. She was a devout catholic. Frances arrived in Ventura County in 1939 with her parents and extended family members. Frances was a resident of Oxnard for 64 years.

They lived a short time in Oxnard Colonia area then Arroyo Del Mar Camp near where Ventura College is now, then Saticoy Camp now Cabrillo Village, then moved to the small town of Saticoy in the mid-forties. At the young age of 14, Frances left the eighth grade and went to work to help support her parents and eight siblings. Toiling the fields of Ventura County along with her parents picking peas, carrots, etc. also grading apricots and picking walnuts in El Rio, then working at Culbertson Lemon Packing House in Saticoy.

While living in Saticoy her parents were renting a house with no indoor bathroom, Frances’ co-worker/neighbor, Mrs. Luisa Quintanilla, would let her bathe in her new bathroom and would open a fresh bar of soap each time never a used. Frances always remembered that kind gesture. In 1950, she moved to Los Angeles with friends of family and worked at an insurance company on Wilshire Boulevard next to the Ambassador’s Hotel as a file clerk for one year. Frances had a passion for dancing as a single woman, whether at Green Mill in Ventura, or while living in Los Angeles, at the Zenda Ballroom dancing mambo to Perez Prado.

Returning to Oxnard to marry, with only eighth grade education, Frances returned to working in the 50’s at Santa Clara Lemon Packing House. Then in the early 60’s Gentry’s Chile Dehydrating Plant until it closed in 1974. Without a job she went through the CETA Retraining Program then landed a job as a teacher’s aide at Rose Avenue Elementary School. In 1977, Frances received a job at Oxnard High School as a career technician, her “God given job”, as she would say. Thanks to Gil Cuevas for being instrumental in recommending her. God will repay you!

As a career technician she knew what her mission was to push the students to pursue higher education, have a better life, and economic situation. After 20 years of service Frances was able to retire and collect a pension. Thanks be to God!

We would like to thank Dr. Craig Mansour, nurse Jeanette, and front desk Deanna, at Ventura Cardiology Consultants, for the excellent care provided while Frances was a patient.

Frances is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Susan and Phil Stonesifer, of Arroyo Grande; son, Ysidro Magana, Jr., of Oxnard; grandson, Steven Stonesifer, of Oxnard; sisters, Lupe Mireles, of Ventura, Julia Camacho, of Rowland Heights, Eugenia (Frank) Ortiz, of Ventura, Delores (Brian) Husted, of Oxnard; brothers, Manuel (Helen) Gonzales, of Oxnard, John (Beverly) Gonzales, of Oxnard, and Lorenzo Larry (Barbara) Gonzales, of Oxnard; as well as numerous nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, her brother, Ladislado Gonzales, nephew, Frank Ortiz, Jr. and numerous extended family members.

Visitation will take place on Tuesday, May 5, 2015, from 4-8 P.M., at Ted Mayr Funeral Home, 3150 Loma Vista Road, Ventura. Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, May 6, 2015, with a recital of Rosary at 9:30 A.M. and Mass of Resurrection being celebrated at 10:00 A.M., Santa Clara Catholic Church, 323 South E Street, Oxnard. Interment will follow at Ivy Lawn Memorial Park, 5400 Valentine Road, Ventura.

Arrangements are under the direction of the Ted Mayr Funeral Home. Condolences may be left at TedMayrFuneralHome.com.