Margarita Guadalupe Serio

December 12, 1926 – March 24, 2024

Margarita Guadalupe Serio (“Margo”), loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, and friend to many, passed away on Palm Sunday, March 24, 2024, surrounded by loving family in the Irvine, CA home she shared with her devoted husband of 75 years.

Margarita was born on December 12, 1926, in Banes, Cuba, the sixth of 12 children (10 girls and 2 boys). She moved to Havana to study at the University of Havana. While there, she met and married Jose de Jesus Serio in 1948. Margarita and Jose had three daughters. Margarita was one of the brave Pedro Pan Operations mothers who valiantly sent her two oldest daughters alone to the U.S. soon after Castro’s Cuban Revolution. She and her husband eventually emigrated to the United States in 1961 with their youngest daughter. They lived in Miami, FL moved to Detroit, MI, and eventually made their way to Orange County, CA in 1964.

Margarita worked several jobs, ultimately working in her brothers-in-law’s (Dr. Alfredo Zarate and Dr. Jose Cueto) successful medical practice in Santa Ana with two of her sisters (Ondina Rodil and Isabel Zarate). In the 1980s, Margarita was one of the first individuals trained by Northop Grumman to operate one of their large full-room computers used in medical office administration. This experience inspired her to continue her use of ever evolving technology until her death.

Margarita was an engaged and active mother, grandmother and eventually great-grandmother always using her educational training and passion for technology to encourage the younger generation. She was never alone, with her family always being at the center of her active life.

Margarita was preceded in death by her daughter Beatriz Isabel and is survived by her husband Jose (“Mongo”) who is 102 years old, her daughters, Lilia Margarita (Adrian Tanakeyowma), Ana Maria (Sid Brumfield), granddaughters Donnia (Bryan Klawitter), Marisa (Dan Perez, dec.), Kelley (Ray Kalbhenn), Renae (Jason Conner), Nancy (John O’Connell), Natalie (Jerry Giles), grandsons Bart Schmidt, Joseph Schmidt, Austin Brumfield, and great-grandchildren Bryce, Taylor, Samantha, Antonio, Conor, Andrew, Noah, Ever, Brady, Ellie, and Coleton.

Funeral arrangements will be held at 12 noon, on May 7th, at St. Cecilia Catholic Church, 1301 Sycamore Avenue in Tustin.