Leonarda "Naya" Soto

On Tuesday, March 14, 2017 our mother Leonarda (Naya) Soto passed away peacefully in Coalinga, California, at the age of 90 years old. She was born in Laredo, Texas on October 22, 1926, to Matilde and Rosa Torres. In 1948 she married Geronimo Soto Sr. In the early 50’s along with her husband and 3 daughters, they left Texas and relocated to Huron, California. Our mother and father were blessed with 5 more children. In 1964 at the age of 36, our mother became a widow, when our father passed at the age of 43, leaving her with 8 children.

Our mother was a strong, loving, independent, hard working woman who worked to provide for her children, retiring after 10 years as a cafeteria worker at the Coalinga Sunset Elementary. Our mother helped raise and care for her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She enjoyed watching the Spanish soap operas, reading and visiting with friends.

She is survived by her seven children and their spouses, Jennie Vargas, Susie and Frank Lopez, Rosie and Ronald Newton, Geronimo and Wendy Soto, Sara and Jim Bland, Bertha Lopez, and Hilda and Tom Crawford, 23 grandchildren, 29 great-grandchildren and 1 great-great grandchild and one sister Maria Romo.

She was preceded in death by her husband Geronimo Soto Sr., son Noe Soto, granddaughter Carolyn Trinidad, son-in-law’s Gilbert Vargas and Joe Lopez and Sister Guadalupe Rodriguez.

Services will be held on Friday, April 7, 2017 at St. Paul’s Catholic Church; 637 Sunset St., Coalinga, with the Reciting of the Rosary at 10:00 a.m. and Funeral Mass at 11:00 a.m., Inurnment immediately following at Coalinga-Huron Cemetery; 40054 Calaveras Ave., Coalinga, CA.

Family and Friends are invited to view Naya’s legacy at www.coalingachapel.com and send condolences to the family.

Services by Palm Memorial Coalinga Chapel (559) 935-3338.