Maida Regina Castro

Maida Regina Castro was born in Sonora, Mexico in the town of Naco, located near the border of Naco, AZ on May 17, 1949 from mother, Francisca Teresa Castro and father, Antonio Castro- Miranda. She and her family arrived in the United States in 1955 in Tucson, AZ with her three sisters: Teresa “Terry”, Rosemarie”Rosie” and Martha. Maida was the third of the four sisters.

The family moved to Los Angeles, CA where Maida grew up and attended Our Lady of Loretto Catholic High School.

After high school, Maida met Ramon Ernesto Gaitan who proposed marriage in 1967. Ramon was then drafted by the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War so marriage was placed on hold.

Maida’s father, Antonio died suddenly of a heart attack while at work on May 10, 1967. He was 49.

Maida married Ramon in 1968 and on December 31 that year, gave birth to the first child, Tony Francisco Gaitan, nicknamed his grandfather, Antonio.

Maida gave birth to two more children: Rosalinda Teresa Gaitan on April 29, 1970 and Raymond Jesus Gaitan on July 13, 1972.

Maida and Ramon divorced in 1974 and she never remarried but lived close to her family for almost 20 years on Dewey Avenue in the Mid-City area of Los Angeles, CA.

Her mother, Teresa lived right next door and her sisters, Martha and Terry lived in the houses in front and Rosie lived across the street with their families.

After all the families moved and went their separate ways, Maida made sure to call and keep in touch with all her sisters and family which continued for the rest of their lives.

Maida worked various jobs that included a Teacher’s Aide at Magnolia Elementary School, Avon Quilting and Caregiver.

Her mother, Teresa Castro passed away from heart failure on March 17, 1990 at the age of 75. Maida was her Caregiver.

Maida also took care of her grandsons Danny, Nathan and Johnny “John Boy” Bernardino while her daughter, Rosalinda worked full time.

Sadly, John Boy passed away on July 23, 1995 at the age of 2 from a rare Psoriasis disease. Maida always kept a picture of John Boy in the car while driving as her Guardian Angel.

Maida also had two more grandsons, Allen and Jason Gaitan, from her youngest son, Raymond.

In June 2016, Maida fell and broke her right hip. After surgery, her recovery did not go well and during those months, she was diagnosed with a rare form of Dementia, a “Small Blood Vessel disease “ and was admitted to an extended care facility in February 2017.

On November 20, 2020, Maida passed away at the age of 71. She was the last of the four sisters to pass.