Lidia "Lily" Fidel

1930 - 2020

Lidia "Lily" Fidel, age 89, passed away quietly on August 6, 2020 at 3:45 a.m. due to COVID-19 complications while residing at the Bishop Care Center. She was born on October 13, 1930 in Ixtlan, Del Rio, Nayarit, Mexico to parents Jesus and Faith Manjarrez and was the oldest of 12 living siblings. Lily, along with her parents and siblings, immigrated to Rancho Santa Ana, Botanical Gardens where she lived for 9 years until she graduated from the all-girls Sisters of St. Joseph Prep School in Fontana, CA, for those considering joining the convent to become a nun, in 1949. Upon her high school graduation and the Korean deployment of her high school sweetheart, Joseph Fidel, Lily fully dedicated her life to her Catholic faith. She joined the St. John of the Cross convent in Lemon Grove, CA where she both lived and worked. She remained at the convent for two years until she decided that she wanted to be married. She left the convent and waited tables at The Claremont Inn, saving money for her wedding to take place when her betrothed returned from Korea; she was married in 1953.
Lily was known for her beautiful and giving soul and welcomed guests into her home with love, grace and delicious food. Even as her life progressed and heartache became a living guest in her home, she never lost her faith or her generous spirit. Her life was a living example of her favorite Bible verse, Matthew 17:20 – "Jesus answered, 'Because you have so little faith. In truth I tell you, if your faith is the size of a mustard seed you will say to this mountain, "Move From here to there," and it will move; nothing will be impossible for you."
Lily is survived by and will be eternally remembered by her siblings Evelia Peters, Luis Manjarrez, William Manjarrez, Norman Manjarrez and Rosalinda Carter; her daughter, Yasmin Childs and son-in law David Childs; her two sons, Mark Fidel, Charles Fidel and daughter in law Dawn Fidel; grandchildren, Louise Shamblin, Jesus Fidel, Stephanie Fidel, Marcus Fidel, Rhiannon Baker, Anastasia Beaman, Laurice Childs; great-grandchildren, Jillian, Auria, and Jessie Shamblin; Scout, Evalynn, and Eliott Fidel; Savannah and Sienna Baker; Macie, Isabelle, and Logan Beaman; Macie and Luke Snyder.
A funeral Mass will be celebrated in memory of Lily on Saturday, September 19, 10 a.m., at Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church in Bishop, California.
Graveside service to be held on Saturday, September 26, 10 a.m., at Holy Sepulcher Cemetery in Orange, California.
The family of Lily Fidel wishes to express our tremendous gratitude for the beautiful nurses who held, loved, and prayed with our sister, mother, and grandmother as she died. DeeDee Costelo, Riely Cottriel, Johnnie, Ben, Urline, and Linda, you will forever hold a cherished place in our hearts.