Cecilia Navarro Castro
Cecilia was born in Santa Barbara to Perfecto and Petra Navarro. Cecilia was predeceased by her husband Rosendo “Ross” Castro, and her siblings Lupe Romo, Consuelo Morelez, Gilbert Navarro, Martha Armijo, Sally Rodriguez, Richard Navarro, and Salvador Navarro who passed away at a younger age; and grandson-in-law Colin Gardiner.
Cecilia is survived by her three daughters, Patricia Ann Valenzuela (Paul), Cindy Bernadette Mera, JoAnna Castro Lopez (David) and adopted daughter in spirit Lisa Gonzales; grandchildren Adelita Vida Gardiner (Colin), Alicia CyL Valenzuela, Daniel Mera (Myriam), and Luis Mera Jr.; and great grandchildren Laylanie Carmen Valenzuela, Jayden James Draws, Cecilia Patricia Gardiner, Brianna Darlene Gardiner, Aribella Mera, and Sofia Mera, who will all miss their Grand na na na na na na na so very much.
Santa Barbara didn’t have many places to dance, and my dad and his friends weren’t allowed in with their zoot suits and duck tail haircuts. The parking lot of the East Beach Pavilion was the only place they could go to dance So that’s where it all started. They met at the Pavilion and he would walk her home after the dance, kai kai kai.
As a couple our parents were all about helping everyone find their way, and as we were growing up we always had someone else living with us. Together they helped many families and friends at different times- to live with our family and help them out in different situations. In addition to sharing their home and family, Mom always provided a support system to everyone, and did whatever they could to get people back on their feet through education, careers and financial stability to make their own solid path ahead.
Cecilia opened her home and welcomed the community, and hosted the Brown Berets of Santa Barbara Chapter in her living room. The Junior Brown Beret Drill Team for Santa Barbara Junior High had a home base there too, including her daughter Patricia, and her cousins and friends who were always in attendance.
Cecilia Supported the founders of La Casa de la Raza (Latino Community Center). Together with other like-minded people dedicated to providing the Latino community with services, community celebrations, and empowering the community with education. Cecilia was honored to have Cesar E. Chavez visited her for her homemade carrot juice whenever he came to Santa Barbara. Mom and her family marched together with Cesar and the UFW for justice in the grape boycotts, and traveled to attend Cesar’s funeral and final march along with Daddy Ross and daughter JoAnna.
In her personal life, Mom loved to cook and clean. She shared her amazing food everyday at home with family and friends, and often with the community, helping in the kitchen of Casa de la Raza- with the hugest pots of rice, beans and other delicious food in mass quantities. In the summertime she would keep her daughters and their friends busy in her own “summer school”, teaching them how to clean the house in the most extraordinary ways, and how to earn money, and save it. Cecilia showed her daughters and their friends a good work ethic.
Our parents were great role models for only having gone to school through the 7th or 8th grade. At a young age our t.v. only had 13 channels and no remote. So my Dad would always have us young kids get up and change the channel to find the news. (Agh!) But he always had us knowing what was going on politically. We were taught to seek higher education and develop ourselves as much as possible. My Dad always said, “If you can’t afford the News Press- at least walk by a newspaper stand and read the headlines. And most importantly- always let your voice be heard and get out and vote every time there is an election.”
Mom didn’t have a college degree but she was a true businesswoman. Over time she bought rental properties in Santa Barbara. She showed her husband what was possible with their hard work and savings.
Mom was the greatest mom. She was always cooking for us. We never had fast food. She always made breakfast, lunch for school, and dinner. She taught us to shop for clothes in the thrift store. When her youngest daughter JoAnna got older she would ask her to be her personal shopper and eventually discover shopping consignment, always learning how to be a smart businesswoman in everyday life just like Mom.
Our Mom Cecilia was baptized, completed her first communion, confirmation, attended school through the sixth grade ,and married at Guadalupe Church. In addition, Cecilia’s final mass will be at Guadalupe church as well. She loved her Catholic faith, and in the 1990’s attended religious retreats in Anaheim with Daddy Ross. In her older age she became Mother Cecilia, loved by many as Mama Cheila, as she was always praying for her family and friends, and even for the animals. When anyone we knew became ill, we would call her and ask for her prayers. We will always remember her saying how she was praying for “the family tree”, and her grandchildren were always grateful for her powerful precious prayers when their pets got sick. She loved attending morning mass at Guadalupe Church and going to Our Lady of Sorrows at noon during the week, where she met more prayer group friends.
Her legacy already lives on in our family, friends and in the whole community, and we will always love our Mom, Mama Cheila, Grand na na na na na na, and more, for her beautiful spirit that will live on in our hearts and in our homes forever.
Funeral services will be Monday, October 2, 2023 at Guadalupe Church, 227 N. Nopal- 9:30am Rosary, 10:00 am Mass, then to Calvary Cemetery at 199 N. Hope Ave. for the final graveside blessing. The reception will be announced at the Cemetery.