Margaret A. Lopez

Margaret was born in Michoacan Mexico and came to California in 1961 with her mother Soledad Arroyo and only sibling Juan Arroyo. Margaret started in the work force to help provide for her family shortly after having her first-born, Norma in 1965. Margaret started working in the fields with her mother as a Picker in Northern California then moved to Los Angeles to work on the assembly line in a factory. Margaret then began her work in the restaurant industry as a Cocktail Server. Not speaking English, Margaret compensated for her struggle in communication with her well-known smile, charming personality, and EXCELLENT Customer Service. From there she worked her way up through the ranks at various Restaurants in Los Angeles and soon met her husband Carlos Lopez as a customer at Papagallos Restaurant.

Margaret and Carlos worked together at La Villa Restaurant in Colton and grew their customer base to start their own restaurant from there. Margaret and Carlos opened their first Fast Food Restaurant in San Bernardino in 1987, which was the start of their family owned legacy. Margaret and Carlos then opened their first sit down restaurant in 1991 in Highland, California.

Margaret leaves behind her legacy and family name with her well-known local restaurant in Highland, Mi Cocina Restaurant. Margaret, along with her husband Carlos and two children, Armando Arroyo and Norma Arroyo owned and operated this local family business for the past 25 years. Margaret was known and loved for her hospitality and compassion for her customers, or as she would call her “friends”.

Margaret is known as a strong, independent, successful businesswoman, but her family knows her as a proud, caring, loving, compassionate, selfless, heartfelt Mother, Wife, and Grandmother. Margaret’s philosophy was to provide the life for her family she never had by working as hard as she could to provide. Margaret’s business mentality was to “work hard for my family” and that she did! Margaret has 3 children, Norma the oldest, Carlos the middle son, and Armando the youngest. Not forgetting to mention, Margaret’s dogs, that she would consider her children, Pancho, Paco, and Chiquis. Margaret has a total of 5 grandchildren, 3 from Norma and 2 from Carlos.

Margaret is loved immensely and will be missed tremendously by her family.

Margaret will be loved and missed by many. She has touched many with her beautiful smile, contagious laugh, and compassionate heart. Margaret’s Memorial Services will be held at Montecito Memorial Park on Monday 03/16/2015 from 4:00pm-8:00pm and the funeral will be on Tuesday 03/17/2015 at 10:00am. Please join us as we say goodbye and pay our respects to this wonderful woman.