Dolores R. Reyna

Dolores R. Reyna Jan. 23, 1919 - Dec. 23, 2010 (Age 91) of Oakland, CA died peacefully on Dec. 23, 2010, at the Kaiser Permanente Post Acute Care Center after a brief illness. She was a resident of Holy Family Retirement Home in Oakland. Born in Mazatlan, Sinaloa, Mexico, on Jan. 23, 1919, she immigrated to the United States in March 1954 with her late husband Jesus O. Reyna and her two small children, Joseph and Leticia. She is survived by her son Joseph, an attorney representing labor unions in Washington, D.C., and Leticia, an administrative employee with the Oakland Police Department. She was predeceased into the hands of our Lord by her husband, Jesus O. Reyna, and her youngest son, Jesse R. Reyna. She was a person of high spirit and strong devotion for her family. Her life, upon arriving in the United States, was an immigrant's story. After early struggles, her excellent culinary skills opened up many jobs with Mexican ethnic restaurants throughout the Bay Area. Afterwards, she worked for over twenty years in the Stokely Van Camp cannery in Oakland, eventually retiring in 1984. She was a proud member of the Teamsters Cannery Workers Union #750. She was a volunteer and parishioner at St. Elizabeth Catholic Church in Oakland for many years. Her proudest achievement was earning her citizenship at the advanced age of 80, thus completing her long journey to full citizenship status. She was also very proud of all her grandchildren including Rafael A. Reyna of Washington, D.C., Xochitl Paz Gavidia and Cielo Reyna-Donaldson of Oakland, CA, and Joaquin Diego Reyna-Donaldson of Los Angeles, California. Her family feels blessed to have had her as the matriarch of the family for so many years. A gathering of her family and friends will be held at Holy Angels/Cooper Chapel at 1580 Fruitvale Ave., Oakland, CA, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Sat., Jan. 15, 2011. There will be opportunities to exchange memories of this wonderful woman. The burial service will follow at St. Mary's Cemetery, 4529 Howe Street, Oakland, CA. Holy Angels Cooper's Chapel FD#381 (510) 533-4114