Sarah Villarreal Lopez Rocha, loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and successful businesswoman of Chino Hills, California passed on January 1, 2022 at age 87. She was born on September 28, 1934 in Cucamonga, California, the daughter of Rafaela Villarreal and Julian Morales, both immigrants from Mexico. She lived her life in Southern California, residing in Cucamonga, East Los Angeles, San Gabriel, Whittier and Chino Hills.
Sarah’s zest for life was reflected in everything she did and warmly affected those around her. Her thanksgiving and Christmas dinners were the best family food events of the year and welcoming ones for new family members and friends alike. She was also mischievous. At thanksgivings a special “baked potato” (a rock wrapped in foil) would be given to a first-time guest. As everyone began their meals, the new guest would be confused about their “potato” and afraid to speak up, until the room broke out in laughter and welcomed them to the family.
Sarah played softball in high school and was known for her “windmill” pitch, a skill she used in her home (even in her 80s) to pitch bread and chips into the pantry. And she loved California’s great bounty of produce – raisins, figs, tunas (prickly pears), nopales, grapes, strawberries, almonds, nectarines, persimmons, watermelon and so much more. Rarely did a box of just purchased, fresh strawberries make it home before she ate more than half.
Sarah loved music and art. She encouraged her children’s musical and artistic talents, attending marching band competitions to cheer them and Whittier High School’s band to success.
Sarah was the youngest of 10 and traveled with her family across California during grape harvest season. She graduated from Ontario’s Chaffey High School in 1954. In December that year, she married her first husband, Rodolfo Salinas Lopez. Sarah had four children with Rudy – Monica, Steve, Laura and Mark. Sarah was also a successful businesswoman. In the 1970s, she helped manage the family businesses, an ice cream store in Whittier and a steak house in La Habra. In the 1980s, she joined Avon as a district sales manager, managing districts in South Gate/Huntington Park and Pico Rivera/Whittier. She frequently was among the national top 10 district sales managers and won many awards.
After her husband Rudy passed in 1993, Sarah married Jose Rocha in 1999 and moved to her dream home in Chino Hills, where her zest for life (and mischievousness) continued. There she lovingly welcomed Joe’s daughters Dolores, Pauline, Phyliss and Rachel and their families into her traditions.
Sarah is survived by her husband Joe, her four children, their spouses and partners, her three stepchildren and their spouses, 16 grandchildren, 10 step grandchildren, 10 great grandchildren and 9 step great grandchildren. Services for Sarah will be held February 18, 2022 at San Segundo d’Asti Catholic Church in Ontario, with the Rosary at 9:30am and Mass at 10:00am. Flowers can be delivered (by 4pm February 17) to Stone Funeral Home, 355 East 9th Street, Upland, CA, 91786.
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.8.18