Josephine Sauza

Josephine (Josie) C. Sauza, 92, a lifelong resident of the San Fernando Valley, California, passed away peacefully at Woodland Care Center in Reseda on May 9, 2023, after a brief illness. Josie came from a large artistic and hardworking family of six sisters and four brothers, and grew up in 1930s and 40s Pacoima, which was a small, predominantly Mexican immigrant community. She attended Pacoima Elementary and San Fernando High School.

In 1948, Josephine married Benjamin Castro from San Fernando, and together they had four children. She was a homemaker for most of her married life, and when her kids got older, she worked in the Central Department first at Holy Cross Hospital in San Fernando, and later at Kaiser Permanente in Panorama City. After divorcing Benjamin in 1963, she was briefly married to Angel Sauza, from Buenos Aires, Argentina.

Josie (or Fina as her siblings called her) loved singing and dancing, and was especially passionate about music by Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Eydie Gorme y Trio Los Panchos, and Sergio Mendes and Brasil 66. Her favorite colors were yellow and orange, and her home was beautifully decorated with flowers, butterflies, bright pillows, multiple paintings by her sister Connie, and photographs of her family.

Josie was a voracious reader, and scandal-filled celebrity magazines and biographies were her favorites. She also loved Turner Classic Movies where she could see her favorite actors and actresses like Paul Newman and Elizabeth Taylor. She was known to have a sweet tooth and loved desserts, burritos from Carrillo's Tortilleria, hamburgers, and Diet Pepsi. She loved to talk on the telephone and stay in touch with her family. Her sense of humor was one of her best qualities as it showed off the playful and spirited side of her personality. She will be greatly missed.

Josephine was preceded in death by her parents, Tranquilino and Vicenta Ponce, brothers Rito, Henry and Robert, sisters Rosalie, Cora, Connie and Isabelle, and son-in-law Ismael Alvarez.

She is survived by her sister Mary Helen (Nena) Ponce of Sunland, brother Joe (Joey) Ponce of Arleta, and four children: Daniel Benjamin Castro of Santa Fe, New Mexico; Lizabeth Castro Gutierrez (Mick) and Joanne Castro Alvarez both of Las Cruces, New Mexico; and Carrie A. Castro, of Santa Clarita.

Josie was blessed with six grandchildren: Christina Marie Castro Harris, Marielena Castro Gutierrez, Ariana Castro Sloman (Chris), Connie Cutrer, Liana Brekke (Knut Eric), and Ben Castro Alvarez. She also leaves behind eleven great-grandchildren: Ian Sloman, Gael Gutierrez Groh, Gustav Sloman, Knut Thomas Brekke, Carina Cutrer, Evie Sloman, Johan Brekke, Maize Jade Harris, Mickey Sloman, Ryker Daniel Alvarez , and Ryland Dean Alvarez.

A Memorial Service will be held at Chapel of the Oaks, Eternal Valley Memorial Park, 23287 Sierra Highway, Newhall, California on Friday, June 23, 2023, from 10:00am-1:00pm