Rita was born on April 20, 1942, in Brownsville, Texas, to Marciana Garcia Zepeda and Vicente E. Zepeda. In 1963, she moved with her parents and siblings to Santa Paula, where she made her lifelong home.
Rita will be remembered as a woman with a generous heart and a joyful spirit. She touched the lives of many and, above all, devoted herself to her family. She deeply loved and cared for her children: Fidel Cordova Jr., Martha Jimenez (Lencho), Arthur Cordova (Rachel), Manuela Guadian (Sergio), Mary Olivares (Victor), and Henry Cordova.
She enjoyed simple pleasures in life like playing bingo, scratching lottery tickets, and spending time surrounded by their family. Rita had a gift for bringing smiles and laughter to those around her, leaving cherished memories that will live on in her family’s hearts.
Rita is preceded in death by her parents, Marciana and Vicente E. Zepeda; her brothers, Manuel Zepeda, Vicente Zepeda Jr., and Julian Zepeda; and her beloved grandchildren, Guadalupe Jr. Ochoa, Ignacio Virto, and Briana Virto.
She is survived by her six children, ten grandchildren, twenty-two great-grandchildren; her sisters, Juana Cisneros, Rosa Meza, Aurora Zepeda, and Ofelia Zepeda; her brother, Luis Zepeda; and her loving partner of 45 years, Juan Lemon. Rita lived a full and joyful life, surrounded by the people she loved most.
Services will be held in Santa Paula on Wednesday, September 10, 2025, at Funeraria Del Angel Santa Paula, located at 128 S 8th St. Viewing: 9am – 2pm, Rosary: 12pm. Following the services, a Committal Service will take place at 2pm at Pierce Brothers Santa Paula Cemetery, 380 Cemetery Rd.
The family would like to thank everyone for their love, support, and prayers during this difficult time.
