Magdalena G. Meza

Our beloved matriarch, Magdalena Meza, passed away peacefully on September 15, 2025, at the age of 88. A truly selfless and caring woman, blessed with a heart of gold, she dedicated her life to the happiness and well-being of her family.

Born on July 26, 1937, in Jalisco, Mexico, Magdalena’s greatest joy was not found in worldly possessions but in the love she nurtured within her family and the warmth she created in her home. Whether cooking a meal from scratch, tending to her children and grandchildren, or offering a listening ear over a simple cup of coffee, her presence was the foundation upon which our family stood.

Her journey was not without hardship. The fourth of ten children born to Celedonio Guzmán and María de Jesús Rojo, Magdalena grew up in a small town where family and faith shaped her life. She married at the age of 15 to Jesús Trujillo and became a mother at 16. Her first child, Juanito, passed away at just 10 months old—a loss that forever marked her heart. Despite this pain, she went on to give birth to, and lovingly raise, nine more children. Years later, she endured profound grief once again when her youngest daughter, Lucy, died at the age of 7 from a brain tumor.

Through every trial, Magdalena’s strength only deepened. She worked tirelessly as a mother and wife, always finding ways to provide for her family. Known for her incredible cooking, she prepared meals from scratch to sell in her community, turning her skill into both sustenance and livelihood. When her husband fell ill, she moved her family to Mexicali to be closer to her siblings. In 1976, she was widowed at only 39 years old.

In search of a better life, Magdalena migrated to the United States in 1979. She labored in the grape fields of Rancho Cucamonga, California, and worked as a nanny. With determination and perseverance, she fulfilled a dream—purchasing her own home in Fontana, California, in 1983. That house became the heart of our family: a safe haven where holidays, birthdays, and countless Sunday dinners were celebrated. Her door was always open, her table always full, and her love always unconditional. She showed us daily that true strength is found in kindness, compassion, and unwavering faith.

In 1986, Magdalena remarried to Vidal Meza, who sadly passed away just four years later. Even through this sorrow, she continued to live a life of giving and sacrifice. She raised three of her granddaughters as her own and lovingly cared for many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She delighted in gardening, tending to her plants, attending church, and caring for her many animals over the years—chickens, pigeons, dogs, geese, and even a cow at one point. Her life was filled with memories that will live on in each of us.

At the age of 76, Magdalena suffered a massive stroke that left her partially paralyzed and confined to a wheelchair. Though doctors did not expect her to survive, her characteristic strength and resilience carried her through, and she defied all odds. She went on to live another 12 years in the loving care of her devoted daughter, Petra.

During that time, Petra helped her achieve a lifelong dream of becoming a U.S. citizen in February 2021, and stood by her as she endured the heartbreaking loss of yet another child, Alejandro Trujillo, in 2023. Petra devoted her life to caring for her mother, opening her home and her heart until Magdalena’s final day.

Magdalena is lovingly survived by her children: Margarita Belmontez, David Trujillo, Antonio Trujillo, Petra Pazos, Georgina Walker, José Manuel Trujillo, and Luis Jesús Trujillo. She also leaves behind 29 grandchildren, 48 great-grandchildren, and 12 great-great-grandchildren, all of whom will carry forward her love and legacy.

She will be deeply loved, and deeply missed.

A visitación for Magdalena will be held Thursday, October 9, 2025 from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM at Stone Funeral Home, 355 East 9th Street, Upland, CA 91786. A misa will occur Thursday, October 9, 2025 from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM at Our Lady of Lourdes Church, 10191 Central Ave, Montclair, CA 91763. A cementerio will occur Thursday, October 9, 2025 from 2:30 PM to 3:00 PM at Bellevue Memorial Park, 1240 W G St, Ontario, CA 91762. A celebración de la vida después del cementerio will occur Thursday, October 9, 2025 at Pazos Residence, 1024 E. 5th Street, Ontario, CA 91764.