Maria Ruiz Mendez

Maria Antonia Ruiz Mendez peacefully passed away on October 8, 2020.  She was 69 and was born on October 27 1950, in Villamar Michoacan, Mexico.

In 1974, at the young age of 23, Ms. Ruiz arrived in Los Angeles, CA and worked at The More The Mary, before getting married to Manuel Ruiz and moving to Watsonville, CA.  For most of her career, she worked at Smuckers Cannery before devoting her time to her husband and children.  Some of her greatest passions included helping those in need and attending church.  She also loved traveling to Mexico and knitting clothing for her grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Manuel Ruiz; her parents, Jesus Mendez and Anita Ortega; and her sister, Socorro.

She is survived by her six children, Salvador, Jesus, Juan, Manuel, Isabel, and David; her five siblings, Angelina, Maria de Jesus, Luis, Federico, and Fidel; her 23 grandchildren; and her 13 great-grandchildren.

A public visitation in honor of Ms. Ruiz will be held on Tuesday, October 20, at 5:00PM at Ave Maria Memorial Chapel, Watsonville, with a blessing to take place at 7:00PM.