Lupe’s dedication and love for her children best defines how she lived her life. Lupe and her late husband Juan Gutierrez had 10 children; Herman Gutierrez, Esperanza Smith, Lucy Todd, Alfonso, Jimmy, Jaime, Jorge, Willie, Freddy, and Carlos Gutierrez. Additionally, she leaves behind 28 grandchildren, and many great, and great – great – grandchildren.
The Gutierrez children are forever indebted to their mother’s teachings. As the family matriarch, Lupe instilled a strong work ethic in her children. She believed this would prepare their growth and development for a healthy and successful life. While other families went to Disneyland for the summer, the Gutierrez tribe trekked across California’s landscape of migrant fields where the family not only worked, but enjoyed lots of playful and mischievous shenanigans - we dare not go into detail about this! It is on these treks where Lupe’s “teachings of life” took place. While making tortillas and burritos on the side of the road she taught her children about hard work self-motivation, teamwork, problem-solving, and taking ownership of a job well done. At summer’s end all the children believed they had just taken their summer vacation and felt any work accomplished was for the greater good of the family.
Every Sunday (for 65 years) Lupe made a big pot of “Caldo de Res,” her way of ensuring she’d see her children and grandchildren. A favorite holiday tradition for Lupe was making tamales and buñuelos (Mexican fritters) for her family.
Our mother (nana) will be greatly missed by those who knew of her sincerity, love, and dedication to her family – her legacy is a gift to us all.
Graveside services will be held on Wednesday, December 2, 2020 at 10AM, at Resthaven Park Cemetery. Invited guests will be required to wear face coverings and maintain social distancing.
