Ernestine Perez

Ernestine Perez of Murrieta, California passed away on Friday, September 26, 2025 at the age of 88. She was born on January 3, 1937 in Tucson, Arizona, to the late Rosa Ballesteros Navarro and the late Aurelio Leyvas Navarro. She was married to the late Arnold Anthony Perez, on June 19, 1958 at St. John’s Church in Tucson, Arizona.

Ernestine is preceded in death by her sons Richard Perez and Arnold Anthony Perez, Jr., her brothers Aurelio B. Navarro, Alfredo B. Navarro, Arnold B. Navarro and her sister Socorro N. Guillen. She is survived by her sons Steven Perez, Ronnie Perez, and Daniel Perez, her daughters Carol Gonzalez and Stephanie Perez Hamlin, son-in-laws Rogelio Archie Gonzalez and Marvin Hamlin, brother Armando B. Navarro, sisters Gloria Nolan and Evangelina Hill, and three grandchildren Zachary A. Gonzalez, Jacob R. Gonzalez, and Reagan K. Hamlin.

As a teenager, she greeted patrons and managed tickets at the front box office for the Fox Theater in Tucson, Arizona in the 1950’s. She graduated from St. Scholastica Academy in Covington, LA in 1957.

She travelled throughout the U.S. and overseas to Spain and Greece during her husband’s U.S. Air Force career of over 20 years. Ernestine and Arnold settled near his hometown of San Gabriel, California after his retirement on March 01, 1975. She was a loving wife, caring mother, devoted grandmother and beautiful friend to so many. She loved to reminisce about living overseas and often spoke about the amazing cultures and fond memories that they created while they spent many years living abroad. Ernestine loved to be near the beach and was happy if she could look out over the ocean and listen to the waves. She loved to cook for her family and we often enjoyed her Spanish Paella. She enjoyed going to our local Greek festivals with her family where she would listen to music and celebrate Greek culture. Her love and devotion to her husband, children, and grandchildren was what she wanted us to see each and every day. We were blessed to have you in our lives and we thank you for being there for us. We will miss you every day, and we love you more than you know.

A visitation for Ernestine will be held Monday, October 6, 2025 from 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM at Pierce Brothers Turner & Stevens Mortuary, 1136 East Las Tunas Drive, San Gabriel, CA 91776. A funeral service will occur Tuesday, October 7, 2025 from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM at Mission San Gabriel Arcángel, 429 S Junipero Serra Dr, San Gabriel, CA 91776. A graveside service will occur Tuesday, October 7, 2025 from 1:15 PM to 1:45 PM at Riverside National Cemetery, 22495 Van Buren Boulevard, Riverside, CA 92518.