Clarita Guillermo Battle

Mama Clarita “Rita” Guillermo Battle transitioned into the realm of our

ancestors on August 9th, 2022 surrounded and guided by the eternal love

and light of her family at the home she shared with her dear younger sister,

Angelina, in Moreno Valley, California. Rita was born to Brigida M. Coronel

(d. 1975) and Mariano C. Guillermo (d. 1954), on March 8th, 1938 in La Paz,

Tarlac, Philippines. Rita was the seventh child out of eight born to her

parents and is predeceased by her six older siblings, Simeon, Marciana,

Jesus, Natividad, Rogelio, and Felina.

Rita grew up in the country. Her adolescence was filled with outdoor

adventures including her raising pigs with her parents and siblings. Rita

was always one to love to paint the town red, as red was her signature color,

and she was notorious for “chicken legging” which means she liked to

always be out and about mingling with the people. Her witty charm and

beauty won the hearts of many suitors but in 1968, while working in

housekeeping on Clark Air Force Base in Luzon, Philippines, Rita met the

love of her life and a soldier stationed on the base, Sidney Battle. They

married in the Philippines on June 16th, 1972, the same year Sidney retired,

and soon afterwards relocated to Riverside, California. Two of Rita’s biggest

blessings in her life came once she relocated to the states. She gave birth to

a beautiful baby girl, Yendis Guillermo Battle, on April 11th, 1973 at March

Air Force Base in Riverside and a year later, her baby boy, who will forever

be known as her ‘baby boy,’ Jimmy Vernon Guillermo Battle, was born on

May 17th, 1974 at March Air Force Base as well.

Rita worked at the March Air Force Base’s Billeting in housekeeping for 30

years until retiring at the age of 70 in 2008. In her free time, Rita could be

found in the Bingo Halls and on the Poker Tables of the Casino in a full

colorful ensemble, with the slickest poker face you could’ve ever seen,

taking no prisoners as she would win game after game. She was flashy with

her jewelry and with her smile, but her endearing nature is what threw her

competition off track as she laid out a winning hand. Mama Rita was

patient, except for when she was hungry. That 4’9” little lady could pack

away a meal especially if the entree involved pork and was followed up by a

sweet treat. Mama learned how to be such a wonderful homemaker from

her mother and those who have experienced her hospitality know that she

could be heard walking down the halls at five in the morning, bracelets

jingling, heading to the kitchen to make some breakfast for everyone which

almost always meant the sound and smell of a crackling fried egg could be

heard coming from the kitchen.

The saying goes that a person “wears many hats” and that was definitely the

case for Mama Rita, but in her own unique way, as she had always lived her

life uniquely, she put her own spin on the classic saying. Rita had an

incredible collection of hats that would adorn her head, but even more

impressive than that, Rita had quite the collection of hair bows and

throughout the years not only did her hair rock the biggest, boldest, and

flyest bows you could ever see, she made sure that her granddaughters, as

early as a few months old, knew how to accessorize too. You knew you had

been blessed by the presence of Rita if you ended up with a bow in your

hair. It was the special, sweet moments like that that made Rita so

memorable. The woman who wore many bows, showed love in so many

different ways. She was a devoted wife to her husband for 37 years until his

passing in 2011. She raised her two children into the high spirited,

compassionate individuals they are today, as well as being a mother to her

extended children from her husband. She helped raise her two

granddaughters from her son Jimmy and his wife Donna Guevara, Ava

Elizabeth Battle, born October 11th, 2006, and Alyssa Marie Battle, born

December 31st, 2011, in addition to her extended grandchildren. She was

the matriarch of the family and provided love and support to her family

stateside and to those still in the Philippines, especially to the younger

generations by helping them get into and pay for college as education was

important to her and she was invested in the success of her family.

Mom, Mama Rita, Lola, Mee-Maw, Grandma, Miss Daisy, the woman with

many titles because you served so many roles, you lived a magical life and

the magic of your existence is forever ingrained in the hearts and souls of

those who loved you. Your legacy continues through your sister, your

children, your grandchildren, your nieces and nephews, your cousins, your

friends, and all those who had been lucky enough to have been touched by

the beauty of your spirit. You are always with us and will forever be missed.

Together again in the embrace of the boundless amount of love that has

departed before you. We are at peace because we know you are at peace.

We love you eternally Clarita.