Frances Teresa Santillan

Frances Teresa Santillan was born October 3, 1933, to Juan and Manuela Martinez in Kerman, CA. She was raised by her mother in Madera alongside her siblings Joe (Chapo) Jesus (Chuey) Andrea and baby brother Manuel after their father passed when she was four. She attended Dixieland, Pershing school and graduated from Madera High School in 1952.

When Frances was young, she worked hard alongside her mother and siblings in the grape fields and recounted stories of black widows in the vines, laughter, singing, and enjoying delicious baloney sandwiches on their breaks. Weekends were spent at the theaters and shopping at the Fulton mall in Fresno. She told stories of sitting in the fields along with her sibling's eating tomatoes with a saltshaker. Frances married Locadio Santillan on December 3, 1955. They were married for 68 years before he passed in 2023. They had their first child George, who passed at birth. Two years later, they welcomed their daughter, Elizabeth, followed by Locadio Jr. and Teresa.

Frances started her adult career as an operator for Bell Telephone Company, switching and plugging in lines for people to talk to one another. She then moved on to work for Ideal Furniture for 21 years as their secretary. There on her breaks, she learned to write story poems from the owners' wife, who introduced her to writing. She enjoyed her new hobby writing stories about everyone she knew. After Ideal Furniture closed their business: She worked briefly for Ace Hi video as an office assistant and later worked at Madera Community Hospital for 25 years until she retired in her 70's. Frances and Leroy enjoyed camping together and going to Disneyland with their young family and as they got older, Frances and Leroy traveled to places like Washington DC, Hawaii, and took cruises to Mexico. They also enjoyed their trips to the local casino along with her sister Andrea, the three of them enjoyed their time together.

Frances and Andrea were very close as sisters and did so much together calling each other daily sharing funny stories. They enjoyed shopping and eating out together as well as crafting. They were as close as sisters should be.

Frances was a loving wife and mother to her husband, children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. Her patience, gentle demeanor and kindness were gifts to her, especially when it came to her second son, who was born with developmental disabilities. She had a special bond with Leroy Jr. and gave him additional patience, love, and encouragement; they always say God gives special children to special mothers.

She stayed in touch with her girlfriends from high school all their lives and attended many class reunions. She was also a member of the Pan American club for many years.

Frances was very much loved by everyone who knew her. She was known for her kindness, loving sweet gentle nature, and soft laughter.

She was sharp- minded woman even in her old age, remembering details of her life and still balancing her checkbook.

Frances is preceded in death by her husband Locadio Santillan, sons, Locadio Jr. Santillan and George Santillan, son- in- law Steven Nelson, father Juan Martinez, mother Manuela Martinez, sister Andrea Yrigollen, brothers Joe and Jesus Arriola, Manuel Martinez, niece Hope Perez, nephews Danny Yrigollen, Richard Newcomb, and Daniel Weaver. brother- in -laws Alfred Santillan and wife Evelyn, Eluterio Santillan and wife Patricia, Ray Perez, sister-in-law Margie Santillan and mother and father-in-law Josephina and Frank Cota.

She is survived by daughters Elizabeth Romero and Teresa Nelson, grandchildren Shelby and Paige Nelson, Gregory Romero, Rachel Romero (Raymond) great grandchildren Violet and Audrey, brothers in law John Santillan (Tamera), Joseph Frank Cota, sisters-in-law Delores Perez and Terri Martinez, and many nieces and nephews.