Maria de Jesus Roman

At the young age of 5, she began to babysit in order to help her mom with the bills. Soon after, she fell ill. In the midst of hair loss and severe appetite loss, a friend of Mariana’s gave the advice to dye Maria’s dress red, but Mariana, instead of dyeing solely her dress, dyed everything red.

About that time in the late ‘40s, Maria, being out in the field with her mother, was seen by their neighbor Antonio Roman, who saw the bright red dress from afar. At that moment, he knew that she was going to be his wife. It wasn’t easy to talk to Maria. Mariana took very good care of Maria. After some time, Antonio snuck under some cactus to talk to Maria in order to find out her name. During another encounter, he asked Maria to be in a relationship. Maria said, “Give me 6 months to think about it.” He agreed to wait.

Six months later, when he came to ask for her response to his proposal to be in a relationship with Maria, she said no. Later, he returned to try again. Maria said again, “Give me 6 months to think about it.” He agreed. Antonio had his future brother-in-law help him make a plan to elope with her.

After another six months later, he came back to ask her for her response. Maria said yes. She piled on as many dresses as she could wear. Just before they were going to leave, she changed her mind and said no, nerves getting the best of her. She was unaware that he already had the horse ready for them to leave. Antonio said, “You are coming with me.” She agreed. That night, they eloped to Torreon, Coahuila, Mexico. They were married on December 5, 1950, by the court.

Maria, during her first encounter at church, instantly felt God working in her life. She stepped through the front door of the church, witnessing what she always said was a wonderful encounter.

She felt underdressed and decided to stand by the door when she saw the brothers and sisters in modest attire, with clean faces, hair adorned with veils, as they praised the Lord.

After trying to be ushered multiple times by different members of the congregation, she finally proceeded to the front of the church for prayer. She fell to her knees in prayer till God blessed her. Immediately after, she asked to be baptized in the name of Jesus. Bishop Fonseca guided her through the classes, and on July 14, 1957, she was baptized in Jesus’ name alongside her sister-in-law Lupe Roman de Jasso and her brother-in-law Rodolfo Roman.

After being baptized, she began speaking to her husband about the word of God through written letters. Antonio Roman was in Santa Paula working on fixing papers to get Maria and their children over to the U.S.

Antonio had difficulty bringing his family over. On his last attempt to cross them over, he had prayed beforehand for God to help him. If God allowed his family to cross into the United States, he promised he would serve God for the remainder of his life. His prayers were answered; they came as a family to Santa Paula.

Among many friends that they had met on their journey, some dear friends were Apolinor and Lydia Lemos, who helped guide them in their relationship with Christ, as well as helping with Maria and Antonio’s children.

In the year of 1963, Antonio and Maria moved to Moorpark. They gained many more friends. Maria became well known as the “seeker of souls.” Her favorite pastime was being involved in church and spreading the word of God.

They constantly went on trips to Zacatecas, spreading the gospel to family and friends, as well as taking lightly used clothes, shoes, glasses, among other things.

Maria was always a nurturer by nature. On one occasion, a little boy was born. When the doctor had cut the boy’s umbilical cord, they cut it too close to the boy’s belly, causing the cord to continuously secrete liquid. The stressed new mother brought her baby to Maria, asking for help and prayer. Maria quickly took action. She prayed over the baby boy before applying olive oil. The boy grew up to be her grandson by marriage, today known as Frankie Torrez.

Preceding her in death were her mother, Mariana Esquivel; her two sisters, Guadalupe and Amparo; her brother, Jose Esquivel; her in-laws, Elueterio and Savina Roman; her husband, Antonio Roman; and her three sons, Jaime, David, and Tony Roman.

Surviving are her sister-in-law, Lupe Roman de Jasso, the last of her generation; her children: Leti, Frankie, Sarah, Ester, Jacob, Danny, Johnny, Mary, and Elueterio Roman, along with grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.

Maria went to be with the Lord on January 29, 2026, 17 years after her husband passed.

A life filled with laughter, love, and hardship, but a true warrior of Christ. Blessed be His Name.