Trinidad Michel

Trinidad Lopez Michel was born on November 16th 1913 in Tecolotlan, Jalisco, Mexico a small rural town. She was an only child of two only children. She was a child during the revolutionary war in Mexico. In her youth she spent time in a convent being cared for and taught by Catholic nuns.

She met and later married Emerenciano Michel of El Grullo, Jalisco, a neighboring rural town. They courted by letter which they left for each other on her window sill as was the custom at that time. They were married on April 28th 1932. They lived in several surrounding towns and ranches during their early married life. Their first child Maria Soledad (Sally) was born in 1933 in Autlan, Jalisco.

Trinidad, Dona Trini or Trini as she was affectionately called was a housewife the majority of her life as was the custom in those times. Emerenciano held many jobs but enjoyed buying and selling. He eventually became a merchant and as such came to own a store in which Trini worked between house work and child rearing.

Their first son Juan was born in 1936, followed by Gabino born in 1938, next came Maria Francisca (Mary Francis) in 1940, subsequently Rosa Maria (Rosemary) arrived in 1945, next came Raul (Roy) in 1946.

It was at this point in 1947, that the family moved from Jalisco north to attempt a life in the United States. They moved to Tijuana and began attempts to immigrate to the United States. This process took many years during which they continued to grow their family. Maria Guadalupe (Lupe) was born in 1953, subsequently Maria Elena (Helen) arrived, and lastly Esperanza in 1958.

Trini and the family endured many hardships during this time of transition. Emerenciano came to the United States ahead of the family to earn money to pay the expenses needed to secure legal immigration. Trini was left to tend to the family. She obtained work in a tortilla factory making tortillas by hand to earn money to feed her children. The older children found work to help out.

Emerenciano took the entire family to work the crop seasons in the States. They worked as migrants in the fields to make ends meet and to try to get ahead. After each season, the family would return to Tijuana to find work to weather the winters.

The first to immigrate was the eldest, Soledad, who married a United States citizen. She assisted the 3 next eldest siblings in securing legal immigration status and work. Together, they succeeded in sponsoring the remainder of the family. In 1958, shortly after giving birth to her last child, Trinidad came to the United States as a legal immigrant.

The entire working age family members quickly gained employment including Trini. She worked in a gladiola packing plant among the flowers which were one of her passions. She always had something blooming in her garden. She loved roses and gladiolas became special to her as they were a means to meet family needs for many years of her life.

Within the first year of moving permanently to the United States, they purchased a home in Oceanside, California in which they watched their children grow and thrive. This was their home until their respective deaths.

After moving permanently to Oceanside, Trini continued to be the faithful housewife and mother. She cooked, cleaned, worked and taught her children to be good people with strong morals, ethics and to share her deep Catholic faith. She lead by example, was kind hearted, yet ensured her children were well disciplined. She encouraged and valued education even though she herself had only been able to attend school to the third grade.

She was a gracious hostess, always welcomed everyone in her home. She enjoyed feeding everyone and was an exceptional cook. The minute anyone arrived in her home, she always asked if they were hungry. She would offer one of her many tasty dishes until she got all guests to eat. She always had something ready to eat and did not take no for an answer.

She was quite accomplished in the art of hand crafts, such as embroidery and crocheting. There are many fine examples of her work in the form of table clothes, pillow cases and blankets. She learned to make clothing on an old Singer pedal sewing machine with whatever fabric she could find, sometimes using the cloth that came from flour sacks as even in those days, it wasn't easy to support nine children.

Trini loved music, she enjoyed dancing even though after marriage and children, she had few opportunities to cut a rug. Some of her favorite singers were Pedro Infante, Jorge Negrete and Miguel Aceves Mejia. The old record player was on almost always when she had a chance to be home. She encouraged her children to sing and enjoy music.

Trini had a deep love of family, she had a special relationship with each of her children and grandchildren who had the privilege of spending time with her. There is not one child who grew up in her family that cannot share positive experiences they had with her. Although, for most of her life, she did not have much materially, she always gave of herself and endowed all with the riches of her heart, soul and deep faith.

She taught her children that there was no greater bond to be kept than that of family. She taught us to love each other, look out for and help each other and to be stronger as a family. She helped each of us find our individual strengths and encouraged us to use them for good.

Trini was known for her sayings, which all communicated some important life's message. These became permanently engrained in the memories of her family and can be easily recited by most just when the situation calls for them.

Trini suffered greatly in her life time enduring and surviving many major illnesses. She almost never complained and barely slowed down as she endured and recovered. For much of her life, she had a significant hearing loss, which didn't seem to affect her as she learned to read lips and was able to keep up with conversations just fine. Towards the end of her life, she was diagnosed with Alzheimer's. Even this terrible disease did not affect her spirit or her kind heart, love of family or faith.

Trinidad lived to be 97 years of age. She was preceded in death by her husband Emerenciano Michel and grandson Roy Michel. She is survived by all nine of her children, whom with her guidance became productive, successful adults, 26 grandchildren, 26 great grandchildren and 2 great great grandchildren. She was without a doubt the finest example of a wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, great great grandmother and overall good person. She will be missed by all.

Direct Descendants of Trinidad Michel

Soledad Soto Daughter
Daniel Soto Grandson
Natalie Soto Great-granddaughter
Erin Soto Great-granddaughter
Nathan Soto Great-grandson
Gilbert Soto Grandson
Augustus Soto Great-grandson
Ethan Soto Great-grandson
Emma Soto Great-granddaughter
Linda Spangler Granddaughter
Gregory Spangler Great-grandson
Lucas Spangler Great-great-grandson
Sienna Spangler Great-great granddaughter
Mathew Spangler Great-grandson
Diana Soto Granddaughter
Patricia Flournoy Granddaughter
Pilar Flournoy Great-granddaughter
Simone Flournoy Great-granddaughter
Gabino Michel Son
George Michel Grandson
Anthony Michel Great-grandson
Michela Michel Great-granddaughter
Richard Michel Grandson
Landon Michel Great-grandson
Victoria Michel Great-granddaughter
Charles Michel Grandson
Jason Michel Great-grandson
Ashley Michel Great-granddaughter
Michael Michel Grandson
Destiny Michel Great-granddaughter
John Michel Grandson
Sandra Jimenez Granddaughter
John Michel Son
Gerardo Michel Grandson
Mari Trini Michel Granddaughter
Laura Michel Granddaughter
Mary Francis Mercado Daughter
Rebecca Fink Granddaughter
Christianne Fink Great-granddaughter
Kelly Fink Great-granddaughter
Sarah Fink Great-granddaughter
Thomas Mercado Grandson
Angelic Mercado Granddaughter
Rosemary Hazen Daughter
Monica Teel Granddaughter
Della Russell Granddaughter
Amy Hazen Granddaughter
Savanna Hazen Great-granddaughter
Roy Michel Son
Michelle Trussell Granddaughter
Heather Crossman Great-granddaughter
Todd Crossman Great-grandson
Roy Michel Grandson
Raquel Michel Granddaughter
Taylor Riccotta Great-grandson
Brie Ellen Riccotta Great-granddaughter
Guadalupe Michel-Guerrero Daughter
Rosalie Iveson Granddaughter
Ian Iveson Great-grandson
Mia Iveson Great-granddaughter
Helen Michel-Corpuz Daughter
Esperanza Pickett Daughter
Christopher Pickett Grandson
David Pickett Grandson

Arrangements under the direction of Eternal Hills Memorial Park, Mortuary, and Crematory, Oceanside, California.