Prospera "Perla" Ritchie

1960 - 2009

On the morning of Jan. 15, 2009, Prospera “Perla” Ritchie, age 48, graciously left this beautiful world to be with the Lord and her beloved son Joper.

The life of this loving and devoted mother and wife began on June 25, 1960, born to Inocentes and Procerfina Bagarinao of Barrio Marcos, Baybay, Leyte, Philippines. She was the sixth child of nine children and loved her big family very dearly. It was on her 19th birthday, June 25, 1979, when she gave birth to her pride and joy twin sons, Joben and Joper. She met her husband, Tim, in the Philippines, and the couple and six-year-old twins moved to Port Hueneme, Calif., in March 1986, where they immediately started their family.

In April 1987, Perla and Tim welcomed their first daughter, Rachel Jean, and in December of the following year, daughter Michelle Leigh completed their family. It was the same year that the twins were diagnosed with Duchenne’s muscular dystrophy; eventually the twins were confined to wheelchairs and needed assistance in everything they did. Despite this hardship, Perla cared for her two sons unconditionally, and the love for her children was endless.

Perla always brightened the day of those who met her with her beautiful smile. She enjoyed time with friends singing karaoke, dancing; getting dressed up, putting makeup on, smelling the rosy perfume, laughing and making jokes, even if times were rough.

Perla loved to be in the sun, watching sitcoms, particularly “I Love Lucy,” picking flowers, cleaning, decorating, shopping, and collecting glass fairies. She often went home to the Philippines to see her family and old friends. Perla always remained strong, even when her son, Joper, passed away at the age of 23 on Jan. 6, 2003. This unfortunate event took its toll on Perla, but she kept her strength for her remaining son, teen-aged daughters and husband, until she became ill in late 2006.

Perla is survived by her husband, Tim; precious son, Joben; and loving daughters, Rachel and Michelle.

She is also survived by her parents, Inocentes and Procerfina Bagarinao, and many siblings and relatives in the Philippines.

She will be especially missed by her sister, Victoria, brother-in-law James Mauldin; and niece, Vickylynn of Radcliff, Ky; her in-laws, Donald Sr. and Jean Ritchie of Indianapolis, Ind.; brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law and numerous nieces and nephews in Indiana along with her dearest friend, Nida Sako, and husband, Steve, and godsons, Johnny and Jordan, of Spring Valley, Calif.

Memorial services will be held on Wednesday, Jan. 21, from 6-8 p.m. at the Conrad-Carroll Mortuary, 401 W. Channel Islands Blvd. Oxnard, CA 93033; 805-487-4911.