JOSEFINA SANTANA

1932 - 2025

JOSEFINA ORTIZ

SANTANA

Apr. 17, 1932 – Apr, 8, 2025

Surrounded by loved ones, Josefina Ortiz Santana passed away Tuesday, April 8, 2025, just 11 days shy of her 93rd birthday. She was born in Battle Mountain, Nevada on April 17, 1932, where her parents Trinidad and Sixta Ortiz made their home while her father worked on the Mid-Pacific Railroad. Her early days were growing up in Nevada where she enjoyed the cold and the snow. She loved making snow angels and decorating them with her father's hats and jackets.

After a short repatriation to Mexico the family settled in the Imperial Valley where Josefina attended Magnolia School. She was a very smart student and learning was easy for Josefina. She encouraged her siblings to do well in school so that they could be rewarded by their father to go see a Pedro Infante movie.

Josefina met and married Dionisio Q. Santana on July 27, 1950 in Mexicali, Baja California. They raised their large family in Brawley. Although her education was limited to elementary school, she prided herself with teaching her husband how to read well enough to pass the test required for his driver's license. They made many friends over the years and Josefina enjoyed the many outings with their "compadres." She enjoyed spending time with her garden and her stone art collection. Any holiday or birthday celebration quickly became a party with so many family members. Grandma Josefina always made sure everyone was comfortable and had plenty to eat.

Josefina was preceded in death by her husband, Dionisio in 2011, her youngest son, Jorge Luis in 2020, grandson, Anthony in 2019, and her brother, Demetrio in 1985.

She is survived by her thirteen children: sons, Dionicio (Lupe) of Salton City, Frank (Socorro) of Salinas, Harvey (Elsa) of San Diego, Mike of Carlsbad, Tony (Inez) of Woodland, Richard and Joe of Vista, Gabriel (Donna) of Valley Center, and Johnny (Lorena) of Brawley; daughters include: Rosalinda Cardenas (Rudy Jr.) and Frances Nunez (Jaime) both of Brawley, Anita Santana Avila of Vista, and Maria Santana Cesena (Jose) of El Cajon; daughters-in-law include, Celia Santana of Brawley, and Sandra Santana of Salinas.

Josefina is also survived by her siblings and many nieces and nephews; sisters include, Teresa Chavez and Monica Garcia; brothers include Manuel, Luis, Henry, Sam, and Fernando Ortiz.

She is also survived by 39 grandchildren: Alyson, Andy, Adam, Alex, Yesenia, Frankie, Matt, Nick, Michelle, Stephanie, Eli, Jacob, Tony, Isaac, Trinity, Richie, Adrian, Ashley, Chris, Hailie, Amber, J.J., Jackie, Julian, Joseph, David, Jonathan, Rio, Rudy, Jennifer, Natalia, John, Bobby, Daniela, Jocelyn, Rochelle, Anysia, Gabriel, and Isaac.

Josefina is also survived by her 25 great-grandchildren: Brianna, Audrey, Jacob, Sofia, Aden, Liam, Lucas, Julien, Isabella, Gael, Rosalinda, Felix, Lana, Jeremy, Julian, Frankie Rae, Nick, Emmeline, Drew, Brooklyn, Jonathan, Rose, Olivia, Emilia, and Levi. Josefina had one great-great-grandchild, Niko. She considered herself blessed with such a large family and Josefina Ortiz Santana Nana will be sadly missed as the matriarch of this family.

Visitation will be held on Wednesday, April 23, 2025, from 6 to 9 p.m. at Frye Chapel and Mortuary in Brawley with the Rosary at 7 p.m. Mass will be held at 8 a.m. at Saint Margaret Mary Church, 620 S. Cesar Chavez St., Brawley, CA. Burial will follow at Riverview Cemetery, 4700 Hovley Rd., Brawley, CA.