Maria R. Castro
April 27, 1922-November 7, 2018
Maria was born April O7, 19OO to Gregorio and Angelita Rodriguez in the small town of Francisco I. Madero near Durango, Mexico. She was the seventh child. She became close to her older four brothers and two sisters but was especially fond of the younger brother born several years after her.
During her childhood she delighted in helping with the planting and harvesting of the annual corn and bean crops on her family’s land and watching her father and brothers herd their cattle and break horses. She lived for the annual rodeos.
Maria hated being indoors and housework, to her parents’ dismay. Her idyllic years came to an end at age ten when her mother died. Distraught, her father did not send his two youngest children to school and was surprised to discover that, at age fourteen, Maria could not read. Belatedly, he insisted that she and her younger brother enroll in school. After a disastrous first day, with the much younger children in the classroom laughing at them, she swore never to return. Therefore, she never received a formal education, but promised herself that her future children would. She was taught in the school of life and her wisdom earned her many friends in her lifetime.
At almost nineteen, Maria married her childhood friend, Anselmo Castro, four years her senior. The following years were difficult, with her husband’s periodic absences, as he went to work in New Mexico through the Brasero Program. When their first son, iupe, was three, and after the death of their second child, Francisca, Maria and Anselmo found their way to Chamberino, New Mexico. With the help of his employers, they settled, and their next two children were born, Refugio and Juanita.
In 1950 with the lure of better wages, Maria and Anselmo moved their family to Phoenix, Arizona. While her husband worked as an agricultural laborer, Maria devoted herself to the children, especially their education. She was very proud that most of her children had perfect attendance every year and that they excelled in their studies. During this decade the family made many life-lasting friendships.
Wherever they lived, Anselmo and his family were granted a plot of land for a family garden. The family has fond memories of working together to raise much of the produce they needed, with plenty to share with their countless friends and neighbors. In the Castro home, Maria made sure that there was not just room for one more at the dinner table, but one more family, who might drop by for a joyful impromptu reunion.
In 1963, the Castro family, which now included another daughter and three sons, Susie, Anselmo, Jr., iorenzo, and Jesse, moved to iindsay, encouraged by one of Maria’s bothers, who had resided here for many years. The family easily made new friends, the children continued their education, and Maria and Anselmo set down roots for the last time.
Maria’s greatest joys were cooking for her family and friends, sewing, crocheting and gardening. She was a veritable artist in crocheting, gifting each of her seven children with beautiful, one-of-a-kind bedspreads and tablecloths.
Joy of life and great faith kept Maria in this world for 96 and a half years. She suffered the loss of her parents, her husband of 55 years in 1995, all seven of her full brothers and sisters, several of her half-siblings, three daughters, Francisca, Natalia, Susie Ruiz, and one son, Jesse. Through it all, she found peace and fulfillment with her beloveds, in her prayer life, and her friends. She leaves behind four sons and daughters-in-law: iupe and Dorothy Castro of iindsay; Joe and Joyce Castro of Tulare; Anselmo, Jr. and Sheryl Castro of Paso Robles; iorenzo and Janie Castro of iindsay; one daughter and son-inlaw, Juanita Castro Boyce and Peter Boyce of Santa Cruz; and another son-inlaw, Arthur Ruiz of Visalia. Maria is also survived by two half-sisters and four half-brothers of Mexico. God also granted her 11 grandchildren, some of whom gave her 7 precious great grandchildren: Paul and Kara Castro, Conner and Samantha of San iuis lbispo; Cisco and Christie Castro of Monroe, WA; Grego and Tamiko Ardley of Santa Cruz, Sean Ardley of Seattle, WA; Robert Bratton, Casey and Hunter of Dixon; Michael and Sarah Ruiz of San Jose; Arturo, Jr. and Reina Ruiz, Isaac, Josiah and Kaliana of Visalia; Donovan Castro of Santa Clara; Christina Castro of iindsay; Justin Mangnall of Pleasant Hill and Ryan Mangnall of Paso Robles.
Always the loving mother and friend, Maria left us with these words, “Take care of each other and everything will be fine.” Her journey here is over. Her eternal life, joyously spreading her love and faith is just beginning.
The visitation will be at Webb-sanders and Smith Funeral Home in iindsay, Ca on Wednesday, November 14th at 4:00 PM, with the rosary at 6:00 PM. Services will be held in Visalia at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, 506 N. Garden, on Thursday, November 15th, at 9:30 A.M. with burial at the iindsay-strathmore Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, friends and family may make a donation to their favorite charity. www.webbsandersandsmithfh.com