Magdalena Juarez

Magdalena Juarez passed away on February 18th, 2021, at Beverly Hospital in Montebello at the age of 80. She was a devout Catholic, loving mother and grandmother, and devoted sister, who lived all her life with her brothers Robert, Pablo, and Apolonio.

Maggie was born on July 22nd, 1940, to Apolonio F. Juarez and Angela Ramirez Juarez. As one of thirteen siblings growing up in the Boyle Heights area of East Los Angeles, Maggie spent much of her youth helping to care for her nine brothers. Maggie was strong in her Catholic faith, and spoke throughout her life of the nuns from the Daughters of Charity who provided necessities to their family - even once aspiring to become a nun herself. She also spoke often of what an advanced roller skater she was, and how she dreamed of joining the local Women’s Roller Derby team (the “Thunderbirds”) to skate competitively.

Maggie treasured her family above all else, and devoted much of her adult life to raising her daughter Karen. She cherished every opportunity for family time, and particularly enjoyed the annual family camping trip to the High Sierras - always extending an open invitation to any and all family and friends interested. For a brief period Maggie also worked at Powerline Mfg, where she would meet Harvey Rathfelder - her fiancé, and the great love of her life. Maggie and Harvey were inseparable, and shared every aspect of their daily lives together over many happy decades until Harvey’s passing in 2005.

After retiring, Maggie again devoted herself wholeheartedly to caring for her grandchildren Kaitlyn, Emmalee, Isabella, and Nicholas. Throughout Katie and Emma’s elementary school years, Maggie proudly volunteered at the school office, and earned a reputation for freely offering rides home from school to families who needed them. Though she couldn’t be as physically active after Isabella and Nicholas were born, Maggie still provided daily rides and daycare, and never missed a school function.

In her later years, Maggie spent much of her time at home enjoying her favorite Hallmark movies, “CSI: Miami”, and Dodger Baseball - she was a “true blue” lifelong fan, and never missed a game. Maggie would also spend many evenings in her backyard conversing with her brothers and taking in the scenery - their gate was always open, and they were always willing to pull up an extra chair for anyone who happened to visit. Maggie often passed the time with word searches, and played countless rounds of UNO with Bob and Polie. Still, she always ended her day by reciting an evening rosary with Mother Angelica on “the Catholic channel”, along with her nightly Novenas for her family.

Maggie is survived by her daughter, Karen Trillo, and her grandchildren, Kaitlyn, Emmalee, Isabella, and Nicholas. She also leaves behind her godson, John Juarez, and his sons, Kameron and John Jr., whom she also loved dearly. Finally, Maggie is loved and remembered by her brothers, nieces and nephews, and friends, as well as all those whose lives she touched with her generosity, joyous sense of humor, and compassionate spirit.