Blanca Lydia Bustamante

Blanca Lydia Bustamante, or "Blanquita" as many friends and family called her, passed away peacefully on Thursday, August 22, 2024, in Vista, California. She was 83 years old.

Blanca was born on July 7, 1941, in San Salvador, El Salvador to her birthparents Berta Vidal (formerly Lozada) and Raul Bustamante. Blanca and her mother, Berta, immigrated to San Francisco, California in February 1957. Before she could attend school, she first had to learn English. After she successfully gained command of the English language, she attended Galileo High School in San Francisco and graduated in 1959.

After graduation, Blanca married Felipe Hernan Modenessi on February 27, 1960, and were blessed to have their son, Hernan Modenessi in 1960. Although the marriage was dissolved, Blanca and her mother Berta raised Hernan in San Francisco, California. On May 6, 1966, Blanca remarried to Luis Adalberto Umana and in 1967, they were blessed with a daughter, Bertha Alicia Umana (now Yorke). The family moved to South San Francisco in 1968. That marriage was dissolved in 1986. Blanca moved to San Bruno, California in 1987, and then lived in Antioch, California from 1993 to 1998. In August of 1998 she made her final move to sunny Vista, California.

Blanca was fortunate to have gainful employment for most of her life. She worked at Pacific Bell Telephone and Telegraph Company for several years in the 1960s. In 1970, she was hired by Pacific Gas and Electric Company where she worked as a key punch operator in the billing organization for 23 years; she took an early retirement in 1993. When she lived in Vista, she took a job working for Anchor General insurance company for several years and then fully retired.

Blanca showed compassion by helping many of her family members immigrate from El Salvador to the United States to have a better life. Her home welcomed her beloved niece Betty Najarro, and also a sister-in-law, brother-in-law and several first cousins. She provided a home, shelter and good home-cooking that Berta made from scratch. Blanca was always very conscientious of her looks. She would tell you "Even if you are going to the grocery store, make sure your hair is styled and put on some lipstick!" Her clothes were always very stylish, and her shoes, purses and accessories had to be a perfect match. Blanca loved to dance and whenever she was on the dance floor at events, everyone would comment on how well she would shake and shimmy as she salsa danced. She loved her Latin music and loved classics like Johnny Mathis, Tony Bennett, Patsy Cline, Doris Day and more. Blanca was very blessed to have traveled to many countries - Europe, Japan, China, Latin America, and Puerto Rico before severe rheumatoid arthritis limited her walking and use of her hands.

Blanca loved her family - son Hernan, daughter Bertha Alicia, daughter-in-law Monica, and grandsons; Tony, Ruben, Sergio and Fabio, niece Betty Najarro and her children, brother Ernesto Bustamante-Piccininni (deceased) and many of her other family members and close friends here in the United States and El Salvador. She was loved and well cared for by the amazing staff at Vista Village Care for over three years and she loved them all (Sylvia, Aidee, Mirka, Bebe and Mira). There are no words to describe the love, dedication and devotion Hernan demonstrated in Blanca's daily care as he was just a couple of minutes away from her care facility. His commitment and patience were a blessing to Blanca and the family. The family is so grateful for Hernan's act of love and sacrifice.

Blanca's wishes were to have her ashes scattered at sea. The immediate family will have a private releasing of ashes in the San Francisco Bay at a later date. In lieu of flowers, we welcome you to make a donation to either the Arthritis Foundation https://www.arthritis.org/ or the Dementia Society of America https://www.dementiasociety.org/ in Blanca Bustamante's honor.

Rest in peace our beloved Blanquita as you are now in the arms of Jesus.