Julieta Dominguez Diaz

1921 - 2012

Julieta Dominguez Diaz September 23, 1921 - March 26, 2012 Visitation for Julieta Domiguez Diaz will be held at Basham Funeral Care (3312 Niles Street) on Tuesday, April 3, 2012 from 5:00 - 9:00 p.m. with a Rosary recited at 6:00 p.m. Mass of the Christian Burial will be held at St. Joseph Catholic Church on April 4, 2012 at 1:00 p.m. with interment to follow at Union Cemetery. On March 26, 2012, Julieta D. Diaz entered God's eternal peace with her loving children at her side. On September 21, 1921, Julieta was the second of twelve children born to Antonio and Dionicia Dominguez. It was challenging to grow up in San Miguel, New Mexico during the Depression Years. Unlike the larger cities, this agricultural area provided adequate staples for the growing family. She attended local schools where she excelled in all subjects and spent her teenage years at both Anthony and finally Las Cruces High School. Shortly after her graduation, her Father died and left her and her Mother to raise ten children. She worked several jobs to help with family finances but soon realized it was necessary to find steady work. She sacrificed a scholarship and the opportunity to attend college for the love of her family. She moved to Las Cruces and did housework for room and board during the week. She completed post-graduate secretarial studies such as shorthand, filing, typing and bookkeeping. She also became involved with the National Youth Administration (NYA). She managed to work twenty hours per week doing clerical work at the New Mexico State University and part time for Attorney at Law R.R. Posey. Little did she know, the skills she developed would be extremely valuable in her future endeavors. On Dec. 7th, 1941, she was working part time at a local market when she heard the radio crackle with news of the attack on Pearl Harbor. Friends of her Father shared the news of a job opportunity for those with secretarial qualifications. She moved an hour and a half away from her family home to work as a civilian at Deming Air Force Base from 1943 to 1946. In 1946 she followed other family members to Bakersfield and put her skills to good use. She began working for Joe Tarbox as Receptionist at the Federal Social Security office and later worked as a Payroll Clerk for American National Insurance. She attended Lufkins Business College and worked for Howard Roland as Clerk Receptionist for the State Rehabilitation Office. She then assisted Mr. Venables, Auditor at the Kern County Administrative Offices. Following the 1952 Earthquake, she worked for Perry Brite at the Kern Tax Collectors Office, which was temporarily located at the old fairgrounds site where Sam Lynn Ballpark now stands. She finally worked for Albert Burton at the Kern County Treasurers' Office. This list of jobs may seem long but she was in great demand due to her previous Secretarial experience at Deming Air Force Base. In 1958, she met her future Husband, Salvador B. Diaz. He was a widower with two children, Florence and Ruben. The couple married in 1959 and moved into a remodeled quaint adobe building which had been previously used as the neighborhood market. Once married, she made the decision not to work outside the home and was extremely happy to raise three more children, Vera, Sal R. and Arthur Diaz. She actively participated in her children's activities with the Jefferson School PTA, Girl Scouts, Cub Scouts and other Athletic events. In 1978, her husband Salvador B. Diaz retired from the Southern Pacific Railroad after 31 years of service. They were parishioners of St. Joseph's Church for over 50 years and demonstrated the qualities of Faith, Love and Family. Julieta was very proud of her family because all five of the children had earned college degrees. She never forced them to continue their formal education yet always encouraged lifelong learning. Mom was ever so thankful to share Vera's home. Our family is forever grateful to Vera for her everlasting devotion to Mom's care for the past eleven years. Julieta loved seeing her grandchildren Alex and Veranica, every morning before they went to school. They showered her with hugs, kisses and pictures they had drawn for her. Mom, we love and miss you very much. You will be in our hearts forever. She was a wonderful inspiration to those who knew and loved her. She recently celebrated her ninetieth Birthday with 50 guests, family and friends in attendance. Julieta Diaz will be long remembered for her strength, determination and unconditional love. The Diaz Family would like to share special thanks to Dr. Raju Patel and his staff, Mercy Memorial Hospice: Cyndi Rangel RN and Maria Rosales CNA/Home Health Care Aid. Shelby and Tori Luna were her special caregivers for the past six months. They always shared smiles with her daily and loved to listen her life stories. Georgeann Karshner has been an extremely good friend to the Diaz Family and instrumental in Julieta's care for the past two years. We thank everyone who shared in Julieta's life. Julieta is preceded in death by her husband, Salvador Benjamin Diaz; son, Ruben P. Diaz M.D., parents, Antonio Rojas Dominguez and Dionicia Dominguez; brothers, Tony P., Paul, Benjamin, Benny and Hector Dominguez; sisters, Ophelia Romero, Herminia Molina-Mendez, and Josephine Dominguez; father-in-law, Manuel Diaz; mother-in-law, Lola Diaz; brother-in-law and his wife, James and Stella Diaz; sister-in-law, Sally Lozano; nephews, Raymond Lozano and Rudy Dominguez. She is survived by her daughters, Florence Diaz and Vera Diaz; son, Salvador Diaz; son and daughter-in-law, Arthur and Lanore Diaz; grandchildren, Robert and Michael Vaclav, Michael, Sarah and Paul Diaz, Veranica and Alexander Diaz; great granddaughters, Paulina and Carolina Vaclav; sisters, Jennie Alvarado, Carmen (Richard) Cardiel and Veva (Tony) Juarez. She will be dearly missed by numerous nieces/nephews and twelve Godchildren. For additional information, please contact Basham Funeral Care at 873-8200. Basham Funeral Care www.bakersfield.com/obits