Henrietta Aguilar Zarate

Henrietta (Hank, Keta, Henri) passed away on August 14, 2015 at the age of 79 years. She was born in Fresno, California one of 16 children of Carmen and Josephina Aguilar. Henrietta was raised in Fresno and Merced. She started her family in Merced before moving to Modesto in 1961. One of Henrietta’s dreams was to return to school and she fulfilled that dream when she graduated from Modesto Junior College in 1992. She was beaming in her graduation picture as she held her diploma.

She loved camping with her children and in later years traveling with Bob and their daughter Trini along the west coast. Mom loved the coastline whether in Monterey, Oregon, or Washington. She loved the ocean air. She enjoyed antique shopping with her daughters and having lunch afterward at her favorite deli in Oakdale. Mom never missed an Aguilar family reunion. She was happy when it was her turn to host the event, held every July in honor of her father’s birthday. Mom and Bob enjoyed cooking together and making sure everything was just right for their guests. Music was always a big part of our mom’s life. She loved Stevie, Smokey, Dionne and Al Green. She used music as a tool to connect her 7th grade Catechism students to their Catholic studies; songs such as, “My Sweet Lord”, “Morning Has Broken”, and “Put Your Hand in The Hand”. She enjoyed preparing holiday meals with Bob by her side. Her tables were always beautiful and festive for each holiday. She always used her beautiful china, crystal and silverware. Her Thanksgiving tradition was for her family to hold hands and each person had to give their individual thanks. It took a while to go around the room but this made mom smile as she listened to her large family giving thanks. Our mother had a salt and pepper collection, some she purchased but most were gifts from her family and friends. It was a beautiful collection from all over the world. Mom also loved her rooster collection. We tried counting them once but there were too many to count. Her collection started around the time she had her pet rooster, Charity. Mom’s flower garden was stunning. She enjoyed creating fresh flower bouquets for her family and friends. Mom loved spending time in her yard along with Bob. They spent precious time together tending to their vegetable garden, flowers, and trees. Our mom enjoyed cooking, canning, and baking for her family and neighbors. Her main ingredient was love. She made sure her grandchildren always had fresh baked rolls every Thanksgiving. Our mother had so much love and compassion to give to her animals whether a feral cat she took into her home or a pure breed pup. She loved them all. She is now reunited with the ones that protected her and her children for many years, Duke, Arnold, Cha Cha, Sambo, Segie, Pancho and Lucy. She passed that special love of animals onto her children and grandchildren.

We will all miss her warm, comforting hugs and kisses and her incredibly strong shoulder to lean on in tough times. She gave all of her children a strong faith in God, unconditional love, and so many memories that we will keep tucked in our hearts forever. She was preceded in death by her parents, 12 siblings, her beloved son, Christopher Pimentel; her stepson, Ralph Zarate; and her precious great granddaughter, Kaylee Pimentel. She is survived by her loving husband of 38 years, Robert Zarate; her children, Ray Pimentel Jr. (Margaret), Rocky Pimentel (Dena), Philip Pimentel (Laura), David Pimentel, Faith Petree (Glen), Hope Suazo (Oscar), Trini Chavez (Mago); stepdaughters, Elizabeth Tate (Robert), and Cynthia McKinley (Bart). She will be missed by her grandchildren, Michelle Hobizal (Brian), Raymond Pimentel III, Lindsey Pimentel, Rocky Pimentel Jr., Ashley Pimentel, Andrew Pimentel, David Pimentel, Sara Pimentel, Christopher Suazo, Joseph Suazo, Marcus Suazo, Matthew Fagundes, Benjamin Tate, Tyler McKinley, Roman Chavez; great grandson, Giovanni Pimentel. She is also survived by her 2 brothers, David Aguilar and Chalo Aguilar; sister, Virginia Aguilar, and many nieces and nephews.

A Vigil Service with Rosary will be held on Monday, August 24, 2015 at 6:00 p.m. at Stratford Evans Merced Funeral Home, 1490 B Street Merced, CA. The Funeral Mass will be held on Tuesday, August 25, 2015 at 12:00 p.m. at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 519 West 12th Street, Merced, CA. Burial will follow at Calvary Cemetery.