Juanita Rayos Castro

Juanita Rayos Castro, age 94, of San Diego, California, passed away peacefully on January 27, 2024, surrounded by her loving family. Born in Lingayen, Pangasinan, Philippines, Juanita was the eldest of seven children of Guadalupe and Rufino Rayos. Juanita grew up in Lingayen where she met her husband Roberto Castro while they both attended Pangasinan Provencial High School. Due to their pursuit of higher education, Juanita and Roberto’s courtship began 10 years later in 1953.

Juanita graduated with a BS in Business/Accounting and began her career working at the General Auditing Office in Manila in 1952, and Roberto enlisted in the US Navy in 1955. Juanita married Roberto in 1957 after a two-week engagement. A few years later, Juanita boarded a US naval ship with her then 3-year-old daughter Nancy and headed to the US to join Roberto in Vallejo, California, where he was stationed at the time.

Being a very strong-minded and resourceful person, Juanita was able to make the most of her new life in the US with her young and growing family while Roberto was often away on sea duty. After giving birth to her son, Alex, and then her youngest daughter, Lisa, and moving from California to Florida and back to California again, she settled in San Diego with her family in 1972, where she lived the rest of her life. Juanita was married to Roberto, the love of her life, for over 57 years until he passed away in 2014.

Juanita was always very kind and humble, and lived a life rooted in her strong Catholic faith. She loved gathering with friends and relatives and was often the person that many sought from her sage advice. She worked numerous jobs throughout the years including salesclerk to seamstress and relished most in the camaraderie with her co-workers. After she retired, she enjoyed morning walks with friends, watching her grandchildren grow, and traveling all around the world with Roberto. She loved to garden and was a great cook. Juanita felt her greatest accomplishments were raising her children, who had all graduated from college, and being there to see all seven grandchildren go on to college as well.

Juanita is survived by her three children and their families: daughter Nancy Nieto (husband Ed, and sons Emilio and Tomas), son Alex Castro (his children Amanda, Andrew, and Annalise), and daughter Lisa Albanez (husband Raul, and twin daughters Julia and Andrea). She is also survived by three siblings: Floro Rayos, Rufino Rayos, and Rosario Doloroso.

A visitation service will be held Friday, March 1st, from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at Glen Abbey Memorial Park – Magnolia Room in Bonita. Mass will be held at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in National City on Saturday, March 2nd, at 10:00 a.m., with interment immediately following at Glen Abbey Memorial Park.