Francisca Ramirez Saldana

Francisca Ramirez Saldana, also known as "Grandma Ochoa", and "Cica", age 96, passed away on Saturday, February 6, 2010 in Ocean Springs. She was a resident Biloxi, MS, and a former resident of Corpus Christi, TX.

Mrs. Saldana was born in San Antonio, TX, on April 5, 1913. She was married to Amaro Saldana. They had three beautiful daughters, Maria, Irene, and Estella. She was a loving mother, sister, mother-in-law, grandmother, and great-grandmother. Her family and her church family were her greatest treasures on this Earth.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Reynaldo and Virginia Ramirez; husband, Amaro Saldana; daughter, Irene Saldana; brother, Tony Ramirez; and nephew, Eddie Montelongo.

She was employed at the Biloxi Regional Hospital and retired at the age of 75. She was given the title of "Prayer Queen," and was always called upon by the patients to please send her to their room! After 20 years of faithfully giving of her time, love and prayers to the staff and patients at the hospital, she was happy to move onto her favorite pastime of giving to family and her church.

She was the adopted grandmother of the Keesler Child Development Center, where her daughter, Maria, was the director. She attended many celebrations and loved the staff and the children. She took great pride in her daughter's accomplishments and enjoyed her visits at the center.

Her love for the United States and patriotism were very important parts of her life. She believed strongly in honoring God and her country. She passed this legacy on to her family.

Survivors include her son-in-law and daughter, Bob and Maria Ochoa; daughter, Estella S. Hatten; brother and sister-in-law, Pete and Lupita Ramirez; her precious grandchildren and their spouses, Lee and Virginia McLaughlin, John and Betty McBrain, Bob and Lori Ochoa, and her precious great-grandchildren, Brett McLaughlin, Andrew McLaughlin, Ashley McLaughlin, Brittney McBrain, Breanna McBrain, Bobby Ochoa III, Austin Ochoa, Garrett Ochoa, Jordan Niezgoda, and Belle Niezgoda; her dear niece and her family, Robert and Yvonne Aguilar; her great-niece and nephew, Hannah Aguilar, and Joseph Aguilar; her dear nephew, Armando Ramirez; her niece, lala Salinas and her family; and her nephew Inez Montelong.

Grandma Cica loved her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and was blessed to be a member of Temple Baptist Church in Biloxi, MS for 37 years. She faithfully attended the church and served her Lord in service by assisting in the children's and the ladies' ministries. Grandma Cica has gone to heaven to receive her reward from her Heavenly Father. Her body was tired but her spirit was always so strong. She touched everyone around her with her kind, gentle and encouraging ways. Her grandchildren and great-grandchildren will always remember her gentle hand touching their face and her saying, "Que preciousa!", "How precious!" She always spoke kind words and gave great hugs! She never pushed her faith on them, but she showed her love for the Holy Bible by faithfully reading it and applying it to her life. She was always at all of their events. Her daughter, Estella, her faithful caregiver, will always remember her being there whenever she needed her. Her daughter, Maria, and faithful caregiver, will always remember her strength in facing life's challenges and always telling her to turn things over to the Lord. "Put it in His hands." Her son-in-law and faithful caregiver, Bob, will always remember her being his adopted mother and the kindness she extended to him as a teenager. She was his role model as a Christian and faithful servant of the Lord. Anita Wallace was blessed to help take care of Cica, and will miss her dearly. Cica was the shining example of Christian love in her home.

She leaves behind many nieces, nephews, cousins, and very special friends. Her favorite scripture was Psalm 23. The Lord has truly been her Shepherd on this Earth, and she is with Him now!

Funeral Services for Mrs. Saldana will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, February 10, 2010 at Temple Baptist Church, 1860 Popp's Ferry Road, Biloxi, where friends are invited to visit from 1:00p.m. until service time. Burial will follow in Southern Memorial Park.

The RIEMANN FAMILY FUNERAL HOME, 274 Beauvoir Road in Biloxi, is in charge of arrangements.

The guestbook may be viewed and signed at www.riemannfamily.com.