Marie Sanchez

Marie Sanchez, 83, died peacefully on Wednesday, April 10, 2013 after a long battle with cancer at the Chula Vista home she shared with her youngest sister, Graciela V. Ali, her husband, Asghar Ali, and their family for the last 26 years of her life. Born in Los Nietos, California, May 1, 1929, she was the daughter of Alfredo Sanchez and Cayetana Valle. She was the 3rd eldest of seven siblings.

Although never married, she was central to her family. She helped raise her younger siblings and filled in as an honorary grandmother to her nieces, Aysha and Alya Ali, and her nephew, Asghar Ali Jr.

Marie was a strong and independent woman. She was also very hard-working, spending much of her youth as a field hand, vegetable sorter, and manufacturing. Marie retired as a caregiver in 1994 and dedicated herself to the simple pleasures of life.

An avid telenovela viewer and newspaper reader, Marie liked to keep tabs on artists new and old. She was also very fond of music.

She is survived by five of her siblings: John Sanchez, Anita Cabrera, Carolina Sanchez, Guadalupe Fernandez, and Graciela Ali as well as many nieces and nephews including great-nieces, Avianna Velarde and Ayla Gardea, and great-nephew, Andres Velarde.

She was predeceased by her parents, her brother, Jose Sanchez, and her nephew, Juan Fernandez Jr.