Jesus Zulema "Sanchez" Hernandez

Jesus Zulema Hernandez (Sanchez) "Zulema"

September 24, 1931 – July 21, 2025

Zulema was born in Lorraine, Texas to Baldomero and Jacinta Sanchez, and raised in the small border town of Presidio, Texas, along with her seven brothers and sisters. Living in a small adobe house, her earliest memories included laughter, and the smell of tortillas cooking.

Her future husband, Ruben Hernandez, lived a stone's throw away from her childhood home. Together, from this humble beginning, they created a legacy of family that extended to her first great great-grandchild, born in 2024. Any one of them will tell you the unique and special person grandma was to each one of them.

Zulema's Tio Tacho was a rancher in Lorraine, Texas. With his help and connections, Baldomero's family learned of other ranches and farms where they could travel and harvest fruits and vegetables. Soon the family was loading into the '37 Ford to travel from ranch to ranch and farm to farm. Their journey for work started in April and they did not return to Presidio until September of each year. With them went supplies and a Pot-Bellied Stove. They traveled from Texas to New Mexico, Nebraska, Michigan, and wherever else there was work. They picked cucumbers, cotton, pears, sweet potatoes, green beans, and so much more. They slept under the stars on blankets and woke to fresh tortillas in the morning. The work was hard, but the stories are told with a smile even when the thunderstorms sent them running to the truck on stormy nights. As adults, Ruben and Zulema still traveled with brothers and sisters for seasonal work. One of these trips eventually landed them in Healdsburg, CA, where they bought a lot next to her sister Pilar on Chiquita Road, and built houses for their growing families, ensuring the children grew up together, and lifelong closeness.

While Ruben worked at the lumber mill and in construction, Zulema continued working in the harvest season with her children, teaching them the value of hard work and responsibility. The family then moved to Windsor, after the children were grown

Zulema had a yard full of beautiful flowers and plants, a garden full of vegetables and always food to be shared. With her limited education Zulema mastered Sudoku, loved puzzles, dominoes, and was able to watch her religious meeting on Zoom when it became physically difficult to attend in person, and read her bible every day.

Zulema was a woman of many talents. She enjoyed cooking, sewing and quilting and giving the quilts to her friends and family. She made over 400 masks during COVID for family and friends, with personal and colorful material to bring a smile behind the mask. Her garden is breathtakingly beautiful and filled with color. Whether it was camping, spending time on the beach in Puerto Vallarta, Hawaii or taking a cruise somewhere she loved traveling and seeing new places.

Zulema was also a deeply religious woman. Joining the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses as a young wife and mother, she took great comfort in spreading the Word and teaching others. Her Bible was well worn from use, and her Congregation respected and cared for their elder "Sister" as she did them.

Zulema is survived by her 2 brothers and 1 sister. 4 children; 3 daughters In-Law; 1 son-in-law; 9 grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; and 1 great-great grandchild; as well as many nieces, nephews, and friends.

The family would like to thank the Hospice Team from Anchor House for their dedication, support, professionalism, and compassion. We are also very thankful to Zulema's caregivers Laura and Lydia for their dedicated and loving kindness.

Services for Zulema will be at 11:00 a.m. on August 15, 2025, at Shiloh Cemetery in Windsor, following will be a Celebration of Life at Keiser Park in Windsor, from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.