Guadalupe Ballesteros Vargas

Lupe was born July 1, 1927 in Colombia, Nuevo León Mexico to Jesus Ballesteros and Francisca Garza. As a young girl she moved to Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas, Mexico.

In 1944 Lupe immigrated to Laredo, Texas in the United States and began working the fields from state to state as far as Michigan, later working the lush orchards of San Jose, California, where she settled in 1956 with her first husband, Domingo O. Flores. They also maintained residency in Texas until a final move to San Jose in 1959 with their three older children, Daniel, Linda, and Ruby. Two more children, Veronica and Iris, were born in California. During that time Lupe began working in the local canneries, sometimes two full shifts a day.

She later married Aurelio Vargas in 1969. After Lupe retired in the 1990’s she devoted her time to her family, including her many grandchildren as well as enjoying time with friends over coffee or weekly Bingo nights. She also thoroughly enjoyed casino trips and crocheting beautiful blankets for family members, which will be cherished for a lifetime.

Lupe was preceded in death by husbands Domingo and Aurelio, son Daniel, and son-in-law Tim Metcalf. She is survived by daughters Linda (Tim Mori), Ruby (Tim Metcalf, dec.), Veronica, and Iris (James Morales), and brothers Manuel “Meme” and Mario Ballesteros. Lupe was the proud grandmother of eleven: Jessica, Austin, Veronica, Tim Jr., Tymara, David, Matthew, TJ, Andrés, Lucas, and Nico; great-grandmother to twelve: Asa, Mary Catherine, Elizabeth, Daniella, Isabella, Cameron, Alex, Jonas, Anabelle, Jaida, Analeigh, and Adam; and great-great-grandmother to Liam, Ivory, and Lochlan.

Lupe was loved dearly and will be missed by many. Adiós nuestra madre.