Rita C. Vera

Rita Cecelia (Trinidad) Vera was born November 15, 1937 at Stanford University Hospitals in San Francisco, CA to Raymond and Leonora Trinidad. Rita’s early years growing up were in San Francisco Mission District. Then, at the age of 14 moved to East Palo Alto and graduated from Menlo- Atherton High School in 1955. On April 27, 1957 she married Raul (Rudy) Sanchez Vera and they started there life together in Palo Alto. Rita and Rudy were the best dancing partners and even won several dance contests. In 1958 she became a proud mother to son Raul Sanchez Vera Jr. and in 1959 came daughter Trinae Lynn (Vera) Pauley. In 1960 they moved to Santa Clara on Cabrillo Ave where Rita became a long lasting resident. Rita was the secretary for the Santa Clara Police Activity League, P.A.L. after working for Sequoia Kemper Insurance Company. She was very instrumental in starting the P.A.L. programs from the beginning in 1975 with Santa Clara Police Chief Frank Sapena and Sergeant Lou Piro. With her organization, shorthand and typing skills the job was a breeze. Rita was committed to being at every sign-up date, early mornings on occasional weekends, to make sure the kids of Santa Clara were involved in recreation activities. In 1972 Aurelio Raymond Vera became the little addition to the family, from there on only real Christmas Trees were welcome during the holiday season. Rita, her family, and at times several other families would go camping by several lakes. During the weeks of camping there were BBQs, water-skiing, jet-skiing, boating and fishing. She even orchestrated a music video mocking the Ghostbusters theme song while swatting flies. Along with camping Rita and Rudy did some traveling to Mexico and Mexico City, Hawaii and Acapulco, and joined in on Co-ed softball play at Mission College with their daughter Trinae. Then came the grandchildren; Jamie Lee Pauley, Samantha Devon Carr, Ryan Patrick Carr, Velina Elissia Vera-Ochoa, Jackie Lee Pauley, Lynissia Carmen Vera, Nicholas Marion Vera, Aurelia Reyna Vera. With all these grandchildren and more traveling ahead of her, Rita retired after 28 years with Santa Clara P.A.L., so off to Puerto Vallarta, New Zealand, Australia and Alaska she went. She also supported her grandchildren’s activities, bowling to softball and even building tents out of blankets in the living room. Rita also liked going for walks, especially to Central Park to watch Rudy umpire. Rita loved watching shows ranging from WWE (during the good “WWF” years), to Desperate Housewives, Everyone Loves Raymond, and the Golden Girls. Most of all she loved I Love Lucy. During the commercials she would challenge Trinae and Jamie to the least amount of moves in computer Solitaire. Rita liked listening to the Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis JR or better known as the Rat Pack, Elvis, Neil Diamond, and a variety of 50’s & 60’s music. Everyone would love to go over Rita’s to eat Crab Cioppino on New Year’s Day, “that” Chili meat on Holidays, or Enchiladas with olives on top with rice and beans. She enjoyed being a part of many block sales, making dream catchers, bowling and decorating her home with the southwestern theme. From the younger years, Rita was a bowler and showed her children down to grandchildren the fun of bowling with many trophies to follow. Then great-grandchildren Dililah Anjahlean Ochoa and Lily’Ana Marie Ochoa and grandchild Christian Aurelio Raymond Vera entered her life. Many people have described Rita with a warm heart and beautiful smile. She also had a quiet wit about her that would catch you off guard. Overall, she was the most amazing Wife, Mother, Grandmother, Great-Grandmother, Sister, Aunt and Friend.

Reception:

Friday, February 1st

Following the burial at Alta Mesa Cemetery

Estimated Time 3:30pm

Elks Lodge – Santa Clara

1680 Martin Ave

Santa Clara, CA 95050

408-727-6044

In lieu of flowers, please donate to Santa Clara P.A.L. in Rita Vera’s name.