OBITUARIES MARIA JOSEFINA JIMENEZ AVILA
Mar. 19, 1930 – Jan. 18, 2023
I am the light of the world. Whoever f ollows me w ill never walk in darkness b ut w ill have the light of l ife" ( John 8:12). God has called upon our beloved mother, grandmother, a nd g reatgrandmother to the light of e ternal l ife. O ur beloved mother h as l eft us a nd w ent to a nswer God's c alling. Our beloved mother is now with h er b eloved h usband.
Maria Josefina Avila Garcia Jimenez was born in Tala, J alisco, MX, on March 19, 1930, and passed a way quietly at home on January 18, 2023. During h er e arly y ears, she a ttended s chools in Tala, Jalisco. S he c ame from a family background of musicians. Her father was a well-known musician who played five instruments. Maria Josefina and her siblings were also a musicians. At the age of 17, she entered a singing contest along with one of her brothers, and both won 1st place. In her early 2 0s, she entered a beauty c ontest in her hometown and won; she was titled " La Reina d e Tala, Jalisco".
In 1954, Maria Josefina Avila met the love of her life, German O. Jimenez, in Mexicali, while visiting her father, who at t hat time was working in construction with her future husband. Two years later, on D ecember 16, 1956, they w ere married in Tala, Jalisco, MX. In the 61 years of marriage, they had 9 children: Angelina, Ana, Margarita, German Manuel ( who passed away as an i nfant), German Jr., Alma, Francisco, Jose, and Ernesto. Maria Josefina loved a ll her 18 grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren. S he enjoyed having t hem all at her house. In 1962, German and Maria Josefina m oved from Mexico to Calexico, CA, and started their new life r aising t heir f amily. Maria Josefina worked in retail but decided to be a homemaker. She dedicated all her l ife to r aising her 8 children. She was a dedicated mother. She was always there for her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.
She w as a d evoted Catholic. She would read the big red Bible (the family's Bible since the day they were married) to h er c hildren and explained it in her own words so that they would understand it. She would pray the Rosary with her children. Every Sunday, Maria Josefina a nd h er husband, German, would take their children to the 12 o 'clock m ass. T hey would sit, all 8 children, in t he f ront r ow. She would tell s tories a bout God a nd a ngels. S tories that h er c hildren enjoy listening to.
She loved family gatherings, especially the holidays. They were always so special for Maria Josefina. She loved having all her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren at the house, especially on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. She enjoyed watching the talent show performance on Christmas Eve by all her children a nd g randchildren. The house was always full of joy, peace, and love.
Maria Josefina was preceded in d eath b y her parents, J ulian Avila and Alejandrina Avila-Garcia; her son, German Manuel; and her siblings, Antonio, Gregorio, R amon, and Angelina Avila.
She leaves behind her 8 children, Angie, A na, Margarita, Alma, German (Hilda Yvonne), Francisco, Jose, and Ernesto (Cheli).
A Viewing will be held on March 1 6, 2023, from 6-9 p.m. at Hems Brothers Mortuary in Calexico. Mass w ill be h eld on March 17, 2023, at 10 a.m. at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic C hurch in Calexico, with a b urial immediately following at Mt. View C emetery in Calexico.