Hermila Monarres

OBITUARY: Hermila (Yañez) Monarres [January 13th, 1938 – October 26th, 2025]
It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Hermila (Yañez) Monarres, a beloved sister, wife,
mother, grandmother, comadre and friend. Surrounded by family and friends, Hermila passed away on October 26th, 2025 in Santa Barbara, CA, due to complications suffered from a slip and fall accident at the age of 87. She was a daughter of the late Ignacio and Francisca Yañez.
Hermila was born on January 13th, 1938 in El Paso, Texas. She was the first-born of 11 siblings in her family. Growing up, her mother relied on her greatly in caring for and helping to raise her siblings. She was active in sports and excelled in track, basketball and baseball up until she graduated from Bowie High School in El Paso, Texas. Her father gave her a high school graduation gift of a trip to Santa Barbara. She arrived in Santa Barbara at the age of 18 and stayed with an aunt, eventually finding a job as an electronics assembler at Delco Electronics. A devout Catholic, it was at church that she would meet the young man that would become her future husband, Arturo. They would enjoy weekend picnics and one of their favorite pastimes, dancing! They soon became a loving married couple. She dedicated her life to her family. A loving woman, Hermila was a devoted mother and grandmother, sharing her joy, love and happiness, while teaching her children and grandchildren strong moral values and characteristics. She was especially proud of her grandchildren and would lovingly boast that she provided day-care and baby-sat each grandchild at some point in their lives. Her home was always open, she welcomed all, with the kitchen and dining room table always ready with the most delicious food. Her children enjoyed talks with her, along with her sometimes silly, goofy sense of humor. She chose to live a life of meaningful acts of love, in service to her family and those around her. Hermila was an avid walker and would enjoy brisk daily morning walks along the beach boulevard. She was also known and respected by many for her over 10-year job as a hostess/greeter and new employee orientation facilitator at the Santa Barbara & Goleta McDonald's Restaurants.
Hermila is survived by her husband of 62 years, Arturo Monarres, two sons and two daughters-in-law, Daniel Monarres and Kip S. Monarres, Arturo Monarres Jr. and Deidre Monarres, and two daughters and two sons-in-law, Leticia Monarres-Torres and Eriberto Torres, Lorena Monarres-Horst and Jarad Horst. In addition, Hermila is survived by ten grandchildren, Joseph A. Monarres and Sophia (Meyers) Monarres, Lauren E. Monarres, Olivia R. Monarres, Arturo A. Monarres III, Antonio D. Torres, Samuel E. Torres, Benjamin I. Torres, Jessica M. Torres, Jade A. Horst and Jamison A. Horst.
Hermila was preceded in death by her sister Adela Cruz (Jose), her sister-in-law Maria Elena Yañez and her brother-in-law Henry Perez. She is survived by siblings Ignacio Yañez Jr. (Maria Elena), Bertha Perez (Henry), Salvador Yañez (Aurora), Yolanda Quezada (Oscar), Magdalena Estrada (Raul), Maria Theresa Rocha (Philip), Consuelo Yañez, Graciela Rodriguez and Sylvia Valdez (Martin). She also leaves many other family members and friends who will sadly miss her.
Rosary service for Hermila will be held 7:00 p.m. Thursday, November 13th, 2025 at Welch-Ryce-Haider Funeral Chapel, 15 E Sola Street, Santa Barbara. Funeral service/Mass will be 10:00 a.m. Friday, November 14th, 2025 at Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church, 21 E Sola Street, Santa Barbara. Burial will follow in Calvary Cemetery, 199 N Hope Avenue, Santa Barbara.