Connie Elias Ortega

Connie Elias Ortega, 96, of Mission Viejo passed away on October 22, 2019, just short of her 97th birthday. She was born October 25, 1922 in the historic town of Guanajuato in central Mexico. Her family brought her to the United States when she was a child and settled in the city of Los Angeles. As Connie grew into a young woman, she pursued and very proudly earned her United States citizenship. In the summer of 1943 she met Mr. Jesus Ortega, whom she would later fall in love with, have a beautiful family, and build a long, wonderful life together. Connie and Jess indeed fell in love, and were married on January 7, 1945. Together they celebrated over 64 years of marriage until his passing in 2009.

Connie lived her life with a deep faith in the Lord, and dearly valued the close relationships and time spent with her family. Early in her marriage and as she and Jess began their family, not a weekend went by where she and Jess didn’t get together with their brothers and sisters to enjoy their company over a meal and grow closer together as a family. As Connie’s own family grew, she treasured her own children, and later her grandchildren and great grandchildren, all precious gifts to her from God.

Connie was cherished by many; in her later years and while receiving dialysis, she would brighten the day of many of the dialysis staff who always looked forward to seeing her. Her caregivers often became her best friends, with bonds formed that would last beyond the rest of her life. In her most recent years she enjoyed the daily company of her caregiver Bridgette Cicchetti, and the frequent visits from her 4 year-old great granddaughter Paisley who kept her 96 years young by reading her stories and introducing her to all her animals.

She is survived by her two sons Richard and Steven Ortega, her daughter Loretta Mathis, her two sisters, Tina Renteria and Angie Rifino; her 5 grandchildren and her 3 great grandchildren.

Rosary will be recited on Wednesday, October 30 from 10:00 to 10:30 am at St. Kilian Catholic Church in Mission Viejo with a Mass celebrated at 10:30 to 11:30 am. A reception will follow the Mass in the Fellowship Hall from 11:30 to 1:30 pm.

She will be laid to rest beside her husband at the Old Mission San Luis Rey Cemetery in Oceanside, CA.