MARGARITA P DE LA CRUZ

Margarita Pacheco De La Cruz was born on January 26, 1942, in Tucson, Arizona to Beatriz and Ruperto Pacheco who preceded her in death.

Guera (as she was known to her friends and family) passed away peacefully to go home with Lord, with her daughter Christina, son-in-law Donny, and son Robert by her side, on May 22, 2022, in Morro Bay, CA.

Margarita first traveled with her parents and siblings to California in 1947 and resided in Brawley, California. In 1954 the family then relocated to Merced County in Planada, California to call home.

She was a caregiver for over twenty years, and prior to caregiving, she owned a ranch and harvested crops with her family and owned De La Cruz Farms. She loved to travel with her sisters on many retreats from Rome to Portugal, and France. Margarita’s love for the Lord was truly faithful. Margarita loved everyone and never judged. A true servant and a great example of what God’s love is and taught many the meaning of unconditional love. Staying in the vine of God’s love and made sure it fruition within her family.  

Margarita and Roberto De La Cruz had six children together. She is preceded in death by three of her children Enrique, Margarita, and Steven. Her three living children who loved their mother dearly are her daughter Irma De La Cruz, daughter Christina & Donny Rugebregt, and Roberto De La Cruz Jr.

Margarita had a total of fifteen grandchildren: Josephine Smallwood (Carvin Thurman), Stephanie Padilla (Jesse), Margaret Delgado (Frank), Nick Tatum (Adrena), Craig Tatum, James Tatum (Nicole), Monica Hernandez (David), Gabriela Torres (Rodrigo), Alejandra Tesone (Donovan), Brandon De La Cruz, Dominique De La Cruz, Enrique De La Cruz (Carla), Steven De La Cruz, Herb Smallwood, Holland Rugebregt and Jett Rugebregt. She had 32 great-grandchildren.

All of her grandchildren loved her dearly. She taught them strength with her actions in life, she was a true leader and led by example. She was our Queen and her love touched everyone. Putting grandma to bed every night when she first became diagnosed as permanently disabled in 2010 with Parkinson’s Disease controlling those neurological movements and could no longer care for herself. We worked as a team taking turns to put her bed nightly. To be her request every night was a box of tissue, her telephone book, cell-phone, and her bible. You took her out of the house the same things had to leave with her.

In 2015 she was diagnosed with stage 3 borderline stage 4 Breast Cancer.

Margarite came from a wonderful strong line family of strong women and we are thankful for all of her siblings.

Her surviving siblings are as followed: Cecelia Sandoval, Rupert Pacheco (Thamar), Catalina Coronado, Ernestina Coronado (Ramiro), Linda Lopez (Ralph), Raymond Sardina, Grace Herrera (Paul), Joaquin Sardina (Grace), Peter Sardina, and Frank Sardina.

She was preceded in death by siblings Socorro Coronado, Dolores Montez, and Rita Maravilla.

To all of her nieces, nephews, cousins, godchildren, and all her brothers and sisters in Christ she loved you all dearly.

She is survived by a loving family: her ex-husband Robert De La Cruz and his wife Isabel who both cared for six years with her son Robert. We as a family thank you.

Donny & Christina thank you for caring for her this last year. May God bless you and keep you. Donny grandma said you took amazing care of her. We love you.

To all of Margarita’s caregivers throughout the last twelve years thank you with great sincerity and many blessings.

My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever” Psalm 73:26

Margarita Funeral Service is as follows:

Saturday, June 4, 2022

Yosemite Church- 2230 E. Yosemite Avenue, Merced, Ca.

Viewing 9 am to 11 am

Service 11 am

Burial Plainsburg Cemetary- 8943 Gillette Ave, Plainsburg, Ca.

Repast Yosemite Church

Flowers may be sent to Yosemite Church or you may make a donation to Yosemite Church in remembrance of Maragrita De La Cruz.

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