Evangelina Villasenor Solorio

Born: Mexico City, Mexico

Parents: José Maria Villaseñor Fletes and Evarista Solorio Hernández

Siblings: Rosa Berta (♰), Ignacia, Urbano, José Maria, Lucio Ismael (♰)

José Ma. and Evarista, were originally from Jalisco, Mexico but newlyweds met in Mexico City for a short time and there Evangelina was born. For several years, the family lived at Rancho de los Noxtles, then in Colima, in La Paz, Baja California and finally in Ciudad Guzman, Jalisco. Being the oldest, Evangelina helped her mother with all the housework and the care of her younger siblings since her father was a bracero in the United States and used to be away for long periods. Her best childhood memories were the times she spent visiting the Rancho de los Gonzales with her grandparents Florentino and Mariana, uncles Matilde and Rosa, when her father was with the family.

Evangelina lived in Ciudad Guzmán in the 50s with her cousin Paulita Guerrero helping with the care of her children and then in Tijuana where her paternal grandparents Urbano and Natividad had moved. She said that at that stage, she saved money to go to the movies. She told of her favorite movie stars (Rock Hudson, Gregory Peck, Doris Day, and Maria Felix) the orchestras that were in fashion, her favorite singers (Maria Victoria, Perez Prado, Agustin Lara, Beny Moré and more) how people dressed to go out on weekends, cultural parties, especially in Ciudad Guzmán. In Tijuana, she lived beautiful moments with her young aunts Lupe and Clementina. The goal in Tijuana was to be able to document most of the family so that they could all be together in the United States with their father who had found permanent work at the Santa Anita racetrack in Arcadia, California.

In the 60's Evangelina arrived in Los Angeles and stayed at an aunt's house that rented rooms to young relatives or acquaintances. Evangelina got a job as a nanny in a house in Westwood, California. She learned from the lady of the house what the day-to-day life of an American family was like, the foods, customs and various details that she had only seen in movies. It was at that time that she met Zenaido and in 1969 they married. She stopped working, they moved to an apartment in Santa Monica, California and in the early 1970s her mother and siblings arrived.

Soon their children, Catalina, Miguel and Jorge, were also born. The apartment was very small and they somehow bought their house in Venice, California in 1975. Together Evangelina and Zenaido established roots in Venice and that house was a place where many family and friends from Mexico came to start their new life in the United States. There was always food, a place to sleep and help to find employment. With the help of several aunts: Ignacia, Felicitas, Irma and Paula; Evangelina dedicated herself to her home and raising her children. At first, there were economic difficulties but in one way or another, Evangelina always had the house tidied up, food for whoever arrived and time for her children.

Evangelina was not only a traditional homemaker—something she was very proud of. She also worked at Broadway Elementary School. She first helped keep order at breakfast, lunch, and recess. Then she was a bilingual assistant in classes when the bilingual program began in California. On Broadway, she was part of the parents' group, the mothers' folkloric group, and took English courses. Many friendships began there that continue to this day.

As time went by, their grandchildren came: Alexandra, Miguel Angel, Juliana, Olivia, Andrew and Karissa. That stage of their life filled Evangelina and Zenaido with immense joy. Each grandchild developed a special relationship with their grandmother because she knew how important it was to tell her story, her experiences, her expectations, her affection and most of all Faith in God.

Prayer Service at Sunset Hills Mortuary from 11:00 am to 11:30 am and a Funeral Service from 11:30 am to 1:00 pm.

A Committal Service will take place at Sunset Hills Memorial Park, 24000 Waalew Road, Apple Valley, CA 92307, US, on October 22, 2026, from 1:00 pm to 1:30 pm, with a Reception to follow at Sunset Hills Mortuary from 1:30 pm to 4:30 pm.