Vivian Lorina Menta
September 30, 1950 - April 24, 2022
Vivian Lorina Menta was surrounded by family early Sunday when she drifted off in her sleep to be with the Lord.
Vivian went to School and completed her training to become a Certified Nurse's Assistant, soon after she was hired at Yuma Regional Medical Center and worked there for over 30 years. She was detailed to mostly work in the Pediatric unit, NICU, and she didn't mind. She loved all the babies she cared for. After the loss of her children she decided to retire from YRMC, she wanted to spend time with her family and friends and she wanted to travel. She was always known to have a bag packed and was ready to go, whether it was to drive someone or be the co-pilot.
Vivian was a strong, loving woman, she loved serving the lord and was adamant about attending church every Sunday. Vivian was a member of Somerton/Cocopah Church of the Nazarene in Somerton, Arizona. She was a Church Board Member and was an active member of the Woman's Ministry. She loved to do fund raisers for the church, making fry-bread; her specialty was making memorial-wreaths for veterans. She was a great supporter of the church and loved to travel to district and zone functions on our Southwest Native American District. We can always count on her for her support. Nothing was too great in the Church work for her, she was always ready with her Okie-Dokie response. She is already greatly missed. She was also a proud member of the Quechan Preservation which was founded by her uncle the late John Norton.
Because of her distinguished hairdo some of her nieces and nephew would call her Auntie Dora she would laugh, but she loved it.
Vivian is preceded in death by her children, Craig Jr, Duane, and Bridgette Menta; mother, Delphina Norton; father, John Townsend Sr.; brothers, John Townsend Jr., Videl and Troy Townsend. Sisters, Velma Townsend and Anna Townsend-Logan; grandfather, Antonio Townsend; grandmother, Loats Townsend; grandfather, Ambrose Norton; grandmother, Laura Norton; aunts, Alva Snow, Myrtle Millard, Edith White. Niece, Sharon Thomas; grandsons, Zaylen Esperanza, Mikey Esperanza.
Vivian leaves behind her husband Craig Menta Sr.; son, Lance Menta Sr. (Cynthia); daughters, Charlene Townsend (Robert Shepard), Angela Menta, all of Winterhaven, CA. Sisters, Deborah Villicana (Juan), Dorinda Iron Cloud (Alfred); grandchildren, Jacob, Craig Menta III, Michael Menta, Ruben (Jennifer) Townsend, Olivia, Vanessa Esperanza, Gilbert, Delphina, Lance Menta Jr., Gregory Amador and great grandchildren, Anakin, Kylo Silva, Lilo Ghiotto, Lilyana, Aaliyah Gaytan. Nephews and nieces, Travis, Christina Townsend, John Villicana, Rosalinda McDonald, Troy, Angel Townsend, Thai, Chiloe Townsend, Celisse Cornejo, Stella Iron Cloud, Jason Coyote, Cylis Iron Cloud, Brina Medrano, Shelyne Twist as well as many more, too many to mention. She loved you all!
Visitation will be held Tuesday May 3, 2022, at 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm for family and friends, Services will be 3:00 pm to 4:30 pm, Pastor Ray and June Stillings will be officiating. Tribal Rites will be held at the Quechan Big House starting at 5:00 pm with cremation at 5:00 am on Wednesday, May 4, 2022.
Pallbearers will be Frank, Berry Comet, Thai Townsend, John Villicana, Claudio Palone, Randall Moody, Sergio Yanez and Patrick McCoy.
Honorary Pallbearers will be Leon Rainbow, Dynta and Ladaruis Jackson, Ty Tecumseh, Stan Barley, Tony Bedoy, Jose Gaytan, Pastor Ray Stillings, Jordan Joaquin, Juan Cornejo, Wayne Chaipos, Phil, Wilfred and Chris Emerson, Charles White, Virgil Smith, Norman Osborne, Tim O'Brien.
The family would like to thank June Stillings, Tessy, Perdius Escalanti, Wanda Twist, Paula Koolick, Shelda Twist, Gail Johns, Kerri Comet, Cecil Durand, Dorinda Iron Cloud for all the love and care they gave our mother. Also, Celisse Cornejo, the Nazarene Church for the food you prepared for everyone. Hospice of El Centro for the medical care you provided.