Zenaida Bautista Palma

Zenaida Bautista Palma was born on August 28, 1938 in Cavite City, Philippines to parents Bienvenido Torres Bautista and Primitiva Saray. She grew up with her brother Ronaldo and sisters Carmelita and Flordeliza and started her love for gardening at a young age in the family garden. One day she was at home and a letter arrived that was the beginning of a penpal friendship. Her cousin was in the US Navy and showed her picture to Precioso Palma, who immediately asked for her address so he could write her. As Penpal their friendship grew, he would send her crazy gifts, like shoes, a wristwatch and even a sewing machine. That friendship blossomed and they were married on Dec 20, 1959 in the Philippines. They had their first of 7 children, Arnold, in the Philippines a year later and moved to the US to Port Hueneme in August of 1961. Over the next 4 years her family grew with Jeffrey, Bruce, Rex and Susan, followed by Ann and Precioso, Jr. within the next 5 years. She was always painfully shy and couldn't even look at Precioso when she first met him, but her family was her rock. (She didn't even answer the phone because she was so shy about her english.) But she was determined and had to support her family since Precioso was in the US Navy and was off fighting in the VietNam War. She had to raise the kids virtually by herself. So she learned english watching TV; she raised chickens at the first home they owned together in San Diego, she worked in her garden to provide fresh vegetables and she worked at a lumpyia company to earn extra money for family vacations to Knott's Berry Farm, Magic Mountain, Universal Studios and Disneyland. With 7 kids, it was a challenge, but she was a devoted mom whose life revolved around her house and family. She loved to cook had the kids help her in the kitchen. She continued her lifelong love for gardening and had a wonderful orchid garden, with bright colors from her favorite, yellow, to purple, red, orange and white. She also loved her pets, and was often seen with one of them sitting on her lap...Ginger, Casey, Gidget and Mika all were loved and pampered as if they were one of her children. And George, her pet parrot has been around since 1984 and repeats the phrases he has often heard her say.

Zenaida passed away in Kindred Hospital on April 5, 2014, with her husband and sons Arnold and Precioso Jr at her side. She is survived by her husband, Precioso, sons Arnold, Jeffrey, Bruce, Rex and Precioso Jr; and daughters Susan and Annmarie, along with 15 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren.

Her funeral services are being handled by Glen Abbey Mortuary. She will be laid to rest in Miramar National Cemetery.