Gracia Rojas Vargas

1925 - 2011

Gracia Rojas Vargas (lovingly known as Abuela Pola) of Porterville, CA, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by family on October 11, 2011. She was 85.

Gracia was born in Doña Ana, New Mexico on November 26, 1925. She grew up in Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua Mexico where she met & later married Jesus Vargas. There they established their lives together and had five children. Many, many years later Gracia & Jesus relocated to Zaragoza, Chihuahua Mexico where she worked two jobs to sustain the family. She became a widow in 1972 when Jesus lost his battle with cancer.

Gracia relocated to Porterville, CA in 1974 and worked as a fruit sorter for CCPI until 1980. She eventually became a part of the Foster Grandparent and Senior Companion Program for The Porterville Developmental Center. She took great pride in her work and accomplishments as a Foster Grandparent. She loved her many Foster Grandchildren with all her heart and continued to be a part of this program until earlier this year. It was in this program where she met and fell in love with Santiago Vargas. They married on July 4, 1998 & resided in Porterville, CA.

Gracia was a devoted member of St. Anne's Parish as well as a member of the Cursillistas. Her love & devotion to God shined through in her every day life. It was with this faith as her foundation that she built a beautiful, strong family full of traditions, prayers and unconditional love. She is and always will be loved, honored and cherished.

Gracia is survived by her husband Santiago Vargas, sons Rodrigo Sr. and Jesus J. Vargas, daughters Irene Delgado, Rosa Esquivel and Yolanda Vargas, sister Nicanora Castruita, 23 grandchildren, 28 great grandchildren and 1 great-great grandchild all of whom reside in Porterville, CA as well as brothers Saturnino and Jose M. Rojas and sister Gracia Vargas Duran all of El Paso, TX. Gracia leaves behind countless family and friends who truly felt blessed to have known her. She is preceeded in death by her parents Jesus and Genoveva Rojas, brothers Euliojo, Ismael and Jesus (Chuy) Rojas, sister Juana Rojas and first husband Jesus Vargas.

Visitation will be held at Myers Chapel on Sunday, October 16, 2011 from 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM. A Rosary will be held at Myers Chapel on Sunday, October 16, 2011 at 6:00 PM. A Mass of Christian burial will be held at St. Anne's Church on Monday, October 17, 2011 at 9:00 AM. Interment will follow at St. Anne's Cemetery.