Jose Salvador Nunez

WELCOME Family & Guests

We are here TODAY to Honor and Celebrate the Life of Our Beloved Father & Abuelo...

José Salvador Nuñez

Born on March 27, 1924

In the City of Los Angeles CA near Historic Olvera Street to his Parents Francisco Nuñez and Luz De la O.

Although born in the USA, he was Raised in Mexico...in Zacatecas. His Father Francisco was an accomplished Musician by trade and he taught Dad n his siblings how to Read&Write Music and play various instruments. When his Father came down with Polio...Dad's Older Brother Luis#1 had already passed away as a young man...so young Salvador at the age of 11 became Man of the House and devoted his life to the safety and well being of his Mother "Mama Luz" and to help her raise his siblings. He learned to use his Music Skills to earn money for the household. Because he was a minor, he was disguised as an adult Musician, a Base Player, by standing on a soap box, dressed in a long overcoat and a gentleman's hat. As a child prodigy in Music he was offered university scholarships to study abroad in Europe and in the City of Mexico. All of which he declined, to focus on his family. Family was EVERYTHING to him. His siblings then were Sisters Dolores, Socorro, Concepcion, Raquel, and Brothers David, Luis#2, and Heriberto. As a Musical Composer...he later wrote a song...an adoring tribute to his Mother he titled Madrecita Adorada.

Raised in Valparaiso Zacatecas, as a young man, he joined the USA/Mexico Brasero Farmworker Program to work the Walnut farms in California. He followed the Work Opportunities in both countries going back n forth between the United States & Mexico, both as a Musician and a Farmworker.

He was soon drafted for Military Service but was not selected due to having flat feet. On one of his re-entry work trips to the USA, he was held and harassed by Border Patrol officers and stripped of his legal citizenship documents because he was not fighting in the War. He was beaten and kicked into the street to fend for himself. Eventually he made it home to the San Fernando area and spent the next 2 decades working, saving, and fighting court battles to reclaim his American Citizenship and to get his Family Legalized in the United States. He worked a while for Robertson Cement Company then later hired on at Major Brands Paint n Varnish Company in Torrance CA where he Retired with a Pension after 30yrs at the Age of 65.

One of the things I LOVED MOST about our Father was his unending Mexican Ingenuity. As a NUÑEZ, he Could Fix Anything and Nothing Went to Waste. For one Family Camping Trip he brought home from work some discarded heavy duty industrial military grade tarps to make a Giant Tent. Every Summer, to keep us busy, he would bring home from work discarded buckets of paint to have us paint the house. It was a rental home. The landlord loved how Dad cared for the home and sold it to him after renting it for 20+yrs. This was our home on Rowan Avenue in East Los Angeles. In 1987 Dad sold this house and moved to Bromley Avenue in La Puente CA. Soon after, both Mom & Dad Retired and moved to Tepic, Nayarit, Mexico where they lived until 2001. While retired in Mexico, Dad gladly made donations to Help orphaned children, single mothers, and those less fortunate. Due to health issues, in their late 70s, they returned to live in La Puente CA...the same weekend as 9/11.

Together our Parents made Many LifeLong Friends with other couples either neighbors coworkers or musicians. They were Married 54Years and of THIS Union Salvador y Guadalupe Nuñez were Blessed with...

*5* Children: Anna Francisco Yolanda Consuelo Salvador

*15* Grandchildren: José JR Anthony Alfred Larry Amber Amanda April Reuben Richard Ramon Zephora Ezekiel Jenae Jolene

*17* Great Grandchildren: Samantha Selena Sabrina Hailey Joseph Gavin Addelyn Aaliyah Isaiah Olivia Adrian Isaac Jeremy Christiana Roxanne Helena Lorenzo

*2* Great Great Grandchildren: Jacob and Julian

Buelo LOVED playing "31" with the Kids and giving them Candy.

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Thoughts & Memories by his Children

ANNA

Thank You Anna for being there for Dad all the years since Mom passed, and especially during Hospice care.

Anna Recalls...

1) The time father took all the family to San Francisco, visited fisherman's warf, Oakland, going through both bridges, stayed in a hotel room all gathered together sleeping on sofa and on the floor. None of us complained, I could see the joy in our mother's face and siblings.

2) Trips to Tijuana, when we got hungry he'd ask where we wanted to eat and we always said "queremos comer tacos al vapor", so he would find a taco cart vendor. He also took us to eat carnitas at Carnitas Uruapan, and to sight see different parts of Tijuana.

3) Camping trips with the NUÑEZ clan where tios, tias, and the cousins would caravan with our father leading the pack to Crystal Lake, Big Bear and Yosemite.

4) We would go to the river for the whole day swimming, eating and playing games.

5) Our father's favorite card games were 31 and various poker games. I remember our tias, tios would gather at the kitchen table to play 31, and we the kids would watch everyone play, munching on peanuts and drinking their favorite drink.

6) Father loved music. He started playing when he was 11 years of age. I recall sitting with my siblings on the back porch of our home on Rowan Ave listening to the group practice and playing different types of music: cumbias, boleros, danzones and other kinds of music to dance to.

7) I had the privilege of dancing my first dance at age 16 with one of the young men who played with Dad's orchestra. I stepped on his shoes many times but he was patient and taught me to dance. I had a lot of fun and our mother was happy to see that my shyness hadn't got the best of me.

8) Dad's group played at all dance halls: the Biltmore Hotel, the Alexandria, El Leon de Oro, the Hollywood Paladium, and others, but the Casa del Mexicano is my best memory because that's where my husband Jose Luis & I met.

9) Dad liked taking us to his favorite place Elysian Park to let us play ball and run around.

FRANK

Remembering Frank...

Because Frank Was a Boy, he was allowed to Work on Cars and YardWork with Dad. The girls were only allowed to do housework with Mom. Frank was Dad's pride n joy as his 1st Son. After high school, Frank went to work with Dad at the paint factory. Frank later became a unionized Boiler Maker by trade. Sadly, Frank passed away in 2004 at age 50.

CONNIE

Thank You Connie for making the trips down here each year to celebrate Dad's Birthday in March and Father's Day plus our Annual Family Reunion in June.

Connie Recalls...

1) Shinning his shoes on gig nights when I was little

2) Our family camping trips. Especially the time he had to scare off the bear! I think that's why i enjoy the outdoors so much

3) How we used to sit and watch sporting events on TV together

4) Him waking us up every weekend with his music playing

5) The time he and mom loaded us all up in the station wagon and drove to Mexico City at Xmas.

SAL

Thank You Sal for taking Dad into your home after Mom passed away AND for caring for him all those years until he found his own place. He loved being independent and standing on his own 2 feet.

Sal recalls:

1) Dad didn't like it when Sal Stayed Out Late and would come home wasted. To get back at Sal, Dad would get up extra early to blast Mexican Music Super Loud so Sal couldn't sleep-in.

2) Sal also recalls various Outtings, or Trips to Pechanga Casino

YOLI

I recall

1) Getting my Citizenship at Age 13. Our parents took us out of school one day to take us downtown to court to get photographed & sworn-in. On the way home I asked Dad..."what was that all about?" He said " You just became an American Citizen". I said "I've BEEN an American Citizen!" He said " No You Haven't...You've been a WetBack." I was SHOCKED and as a result I developed a passion for Chicano & Civil Rights. Dad then started calling me "Chicanita"

2) Saturdays were Bath n Hair Roller days plus Dance Night Out

3) Sundays were Church & Menudo days, plus Road Trip or COUSIN Visit days. On one Road Trip...our yellow Dodge station wagon broke down in the middle of nowhere with a carload of kids and adults. Dad had us walk with him to a road shack store. He bought a Can of Tuna, Crackers, Ketchup, and CocaCola to feed us. He took the empty Tuna Can and a scrap piece of wire and fixed the car while we ate. That's Mexican Ingenuity right there.

4) My Favorite of Dad's Gigs were the Olvera Street Tardeada Dances on Sunday afternoons, or Saturday Family Festivals.

5) I remember Watching Dodgers Games on TV, Phillipes Lamb or Beef dip Sandwiches and Griffith Park PicNics

5) At Christmas Time...the Family Posadas, Nacimentos, and Tamales

6) He taught us a Deep Appreciation of Traditions Culture and Our Heritage

7) I would laugh at him with his Video Camera when he was filming the sidewalk cement by mistake. He didn't like me taking his photo.

8) His siblings gave us Cousins Barajas, Juarez, Herrera, Arriaga, and Nuñez

7) I Will Never Forget him waking out of a deep sleep while in hospice home care...to look me straight in the eye and say "You Need to Make My Christmas Tamales"

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With All THIS We've Shared over the Years Dad's Legacy is Simple...

HE SHOWED UP

He's in our photos like the current Bernie Meme, always in the background. Even after Mom passed in 2006...He Showed Up. We were very Blessed to have Dad all these extra years. We were given a chance to bond and get to know him. Something we didn't get to do much as kids because he was always working. Mon-Fri he worked as a Foreman at the paint factory and weekends he was a Bigger than Life Musical Director playing Gigs all over SoCal with his own Orchestra (Like Ricky Ricardo). Radio KALI would announce him on Spanish Radio as EL MAESTRO ZACATECANO. I remember as a kid being with Mom in the kitchen making Tortillas, & her Face would light up every time the Radio said his name.

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IN CLOSING

I am eternally Grateful to have spent time with both our parents during their final days. Dad hung-in-there during Hospice for 2 very specific things: (1) Watching the DODGERS WIN the World Series, and (2) To do his Civil Duty as an American Citizen and VOTE. I am Honored to have been by his side for Both of these events.

Here...on THIS Table...are a few of his favorite things to share with YOU...Music Notes, Dodger Balls, Mexican Hot Chocolate, and treats to represent the character "Carl" from the movie UP...the grumpy loveable old man, just like Buelo. As Carl, who went UP into the heavens, with his Balloons to reunite with his Ellie...

So Dad has gone UP into the Heavens to reunite with Mom💞

My Prayer for Our NUÑEZ FAMILY is that WE Continue to Show Up for Each Other AS A FAMILY...that's what Buelo would want for Us AND That's How We Can Best Honor Him.

Buelo & Buela LIVED FOR US...

They left no stone unturned to make sure we had what we Needed...a Home, Food, Faith, and Each Other. Through Catholic Church Sacraments they taught us to Celebrate LIFE and Life Milestones.

MUSICA FAMILIA COMIDA

That's Our NUÑEZ Mantra

GOD BLESS YOU

And THANK YOU for Loving Our Dad❤

🎼🎵🎶🎹🎻🎺🎷🎸🎧👑🎥🎄💿🏠