OBITUARIES

Louis Diaz

83, El Centro

Daniel Cerda

74, Oceanside

Raul Cocova

74, Westmorland

LOUIS F. DIAZ

Aug. 25, 1933 - July 19, 2017

Rosary will be recited at 7 p.m. Sunday, July 30 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, El Centro for U.S. Air Force Airman, 2nd Class Police, Louis F. Diaz. Mass will be said at 9 a.m. Monday, July 31 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, El Centro with Fr. Mark Edny officiating. Burial immediately following at Evergreen Cemetery in El Centro. Hems Brothers Mortuary of El Centro is handling the funeral arrangements.

Mr. Diaz was born August 25, 1933 and was an Imperial Valley resident for more than 50 years. On July 19, 2017 Mr. Diaz transitioned from this life due to a short term illness at his home with his loving family by his side.

Mr. Diaz graduated from Edison High School in Fresno, CA. He married the love of his life Elodia in 1959. Prior to retirement Mr. Diaz was a truck driver for 33 years, but soon realized retirement wasn’t’ for him and began working as a shuttle driver for the family business at Rogers and Rogers Nissan. In addition to his passion for work he was an avid hunter and fisherman, and loved watching his Denver Broncos during football season.

Mr. Diaz was a devoted husband, father and tata. He was known as the strong silent type, but his one weakness was his family who always put a smile on his face and show cased his larger than life personality. He loved spending time with them doing some of his favorite activities including BBQ , cooking, family trips; including the occasional casino run and spending time with his kids and grandkids at sporting events and 4H, which was always a family affair.

Mr. Diaz was a very selfless man always giving back which was demonstrated in his many years in the United States Air Force at Dover Air Force Base and as a member of the Knights of Columbus. He even served as Grand Knight in 1970.

He was preceded in death by his parents Encarnacion and Pascala Diaz; parents- in- laws, Mercedes and Guadalupe Garcia; son, Louie M. Diaz and granddaughter, Melissa “Melisee” Diaz.

Mr. Diaz is survived by his loving wife of 58 years Elodia; daughters, Mary Helen Sanchez and Terri (Les) Rogers; grandchildren, Vanessa Rogers and Justin (Valerie) Sanchez; and great- grandson, Liam Sanchez, who was the twinkle in his eyes; sister, Monica Zarasua and a host of sister- in- laws, nieces, nephews and cousins.

“I am strong, but I am tired.”

DANIEL JESUS CERDA

Aug. 11, 1942 - July 17, 2017

Daniel Jesus Cerda, 74, of Oceanside passed away on Monday, July 17, 2017 at his home surrounded by family.

Daniel was born on August 11, 1942 in Oceanside, CA, married the love of his life Ernestine Castro, and moved to El Centro, CA to pursue his academic career.

Daniel joined the faculty at Imperial Valley College (IVC) with his wife, Ernestine, for the specific purpose of developing an English as a Second Language (ESL) program. Daniel was appointed ESL Coordinator, and under his leadership the program rapidly expanded to employ 35 instructors, offer 100 ESL day and evening classes, serving over 1,000 students each semester. His innovative techniques and programs have served as an example for other community colleges.

Daniel served on the Executive Board of the IVC Chapter of the California Teachers Association (CTA) as Treasurer and Vice President, and in 1994 was selected as the recipient of the California W.H.O. (We Honor Ours) CTA Award for his outstanding efforts at IVC.

Daniel received the California Legislature Assembly Certificate of Recognition in October 2014 for his accomplishments in academics and the honor of being inducted into the Oceanside High School Foundation Hall of Fame.

Though “Professor Cerda” received much recognition for his academic achievements, his greatest pride was in his loving wife and the four children he raised, the large wonderful family he cherished, and the hundreds of students whom he had great joy in teaching.

Daniel is survived by his wife of 46 years, Ernestine Castro Cerda of Oceanside; daughters, Andrea Cerda and Yvonne Cerda; sons, John Cerda and family, Frankie Cerda and family; grandchildren, Joseph, Sophia and Diego; sisters, Isabel Cerda Martinez and Rosalie Cerda Guajardo; brothers, Ramon Cerda and Leonard Cerda and a large family of aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces and nephews.

Daniel was preceded in death by his parents, Daniel S. Cerda and Guadalupe T. Zamora Cerda; sisters, Irene Cerda and Gloria Cerda Jaime.

Rosary and viewing will take place on Thursday, August 3rd at St. Patrick’s Church in Carlsbad from 4 to 8 p.m. Funeral on Friday, August 4th at St. Patrick’s Church in Carlsbad at 10 a.m., with burial at Eternal Hills Cemetery in Oceanside at 12 p.m.

RAUL M. COCOVA

July 24, 1942 - July 19, 2017

Raul M. Cocova, 74, of Westmorland, CA passed away on Wednesday, July 19, 2017.

Raul was born on July 24, 1942 in Santa Clara. He married Lupe Penunuri on June 5, 1964 in El Centro, CA.

He is survived by wife, Lupe P. Cocova of Westmorland, CA; son, Arnold Cocova of Westmorland; daughters, Josie P. Cocova of Brawley and Lorena Cocova of Brawley; sisters, Sally Moreno of Westmorland and Angie Redondo of Westmorland; brother, Joe Cocova of Westmorland and numerous grandchildren.

Visitation will be held on Thursday, July 27, 2017 from 6 to 9 p.m. with rosary at 7 p.m. at Frye Chapel and Mortuary in Brawley, CA. Mass will be held on Friday, July 28, 2017 at 10 a.m. at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Westmorland with Father Ed Horning officiating. Burial will immediately follow at Riverview Cemetery in Brawley, CA.