Esther Ruiz

Esther Ruiz, age 99, passed away peacefully at her Madera home on Wednesday, May 30, 2018 surrounded by her loving family. Esther was born in Jalisco, Mexico in November of 1918 to Fructoso and Hermenegilda Sanchez. Esther has lived in Madera for the past 50 years where she was a member of St. Joachim Catholic Church. Esther loved to sew, knit and crochet, and she could sew anything her family wanted because she made her own sewing patterns. Esther loved to cook, loved being at the ocean, loved to dance, loved watching hummingbirds and loved to ride horses. She was highly old fashion, had strict morals, but she had a very witty sense of humor. Esther loved traveling, especially to Mexico to see her family. She loved visiting Bethlehem, Paris, and the Vatican in Rome. She was thrifty and great at saving money wherever she could. She also liked to make bets on rooster fighting and always loved to go swimming in ice cold water. Above all else, Esther loved being a grandmother and passing on her many passions, and love to all of her grandchildren. 

Esther is preceded in death by her parents, her husband of 48 years Santos Ruiz, her three sisters Eva Brambila, Eduvijes Palomera and Emerita Sanchez, her brother Fernando Sanchez, her son-in-law Aureliano Avila, her daughter-in-law Maria E. Ruiz and her great-granddaughter Mariah Madrigal. 

Esther is survived by her two sons first born son Victor Ruiz of Madera, and Rodolfo and his wife Maria de la Luz de Ruiz of Guadalajara, her four daughters first born daughter Bertha Avila Ruiz of Madera, Maria de la Luz and her husband Joe Martinez of Henderson, Nevada, Estela and her husband Hugo Madrigal of Madera, and Emma and her husband Victor Gonzalez of Guanajuato, her two sisters Elena Sanchez and Eloisa Sanchez of Mexico, as well as 17 grandchildren; first born Alma Leticia Ruiz, 24 great-grandchildren; first born Santos Fernando Medina and 5 great-great-grandchildren; first born Alizé Medina. 

Visitation will be held on Wednesday, June 6, 2018 from 4-8PM at Jay Chapel, Madera. Evening Service will begin at 6:00 PM and the Rosary will begin at 7:00 PM. 
Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Thursday, June 7, 2018 at 11:00 AM at St. Joachim Catholic Church, Madera. Interment immediately following at Calvary Cemetery, Madera.