Abelia Ramirez

Abelia Ramirez, age 69, of Sunnyside, WA peacefully went to be in the arms of her Heavenly Father on Saturday, November 14, 2015.  Abelia was born July 16, 1946 in Holy Cross Township, Minnesota to Alfonso and Petra Melendrez.  She was raised in Carrizo Springs, TX along with her brothers and sisters.  She and her family were hard working migrant farm workers. Migrating with many other Tejano Families to California and Washington picking crops walnuts, cucumbers and prunes, thinning beets, cutting asparagus and picking strawberries.  The family finally settled in Sunnyside in 1965. Abelia met her future husband Juan in the spring of 1969, while they were working planting asparagus. He was on a trip from Texas, visiting his mother and after meeting her never left.  They dated and then married April 25, 1970 at St. Joseph’s Church in Sunnyside. She was a hardworking woman who not only worked in the fields, but maintained a home and took great care of her three children. Later on she went to work for the Sunnyside School District as a cook and made many friendships through her twenty years of service.  She was a loving caring Mother and “Wela”.  Her greatest blessings were her nine grandchildren.  She was present for the birth of each one and from that moment on she loved and cared for them like no one else could.  She loved her nieces and nephews. She was giving, loving, caring and kind and formed loving relationships with them.   She battled Cancer for the last ten years of her life. It may have affected her body but it never destroyed her will.  She was strong and firm in her faith. She loved the Lord with all her heart and soul. “Having you in our lives, mom was the greatest gift of all”.  She is survived by her husband of forty-five  years Juan F. Ramirez.  Daughter Esmeralda Ramirez (Baldemar Flores). Son Juan F. Ramirez Jr. (Paula Aguilar) and daughter Graciela (David) Slavens and her nine grandchildren, Diego, Gina, Santana, Marissa, Emilio, Serena, Elias, Julian and David. Sisters Angela “Helina” Melendrez, Rosa “Charra” Garza, Julia Melendrez, Maria “Mary” Moser, Dominga “Pee-Wee” Cortez, Cruz Amaro, Carmen Reyes and Santa Myers and brother Richard Melendrez.  She is preceded in death by her parents, Alfonso P. and Petra Melendrez, sister Aurora Escobar. Brothers Ramiro Melendrez, Alberto Melendrez, Nicolas Melendrez and Vidal Melendrez.  Viewing and Visitation will be held on Wednesday, November 18, 2015 from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. with a Recitation of the Holy Rosary at 6:00 p.m. at the Smith Funeral Home Chapel in Sunnyside, WA.  Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Thursday, November 19, 2015 at 10:00 a.m. at the St. Joseph Catholic Church in Sunnyside, WA.  Burial will follow at the Lower Valley Memorial Gardens in Sunnyside, WA.  Those wishing to sign Abelia’s online memorial book may do so at www.funeralhomesmith.com  Smith Funeral Home Ltd. and Crematory in care of arrangements. 

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