Virginia Lorca Gutierrez
Our mother, Virginia L. Gutierrez passed away on October 1, 2024. Virginia was born in Guadalajara Mexico on January 5th 1957 to Raul C. Lorca and Maria Elena Lorca. Along with her siblings Silvia, Jorge, Miguel, and Benny, the Lorcas moved to Tijuana in the late 1960’s as they waited for their immigration documents. The entire family were able to join their youngest sister, Rosa in the states in 1970 and settled in Goleta California.
After graduating from Dos Pueblos High School in 1975, Virginia joined local companies in the surrounding Goleta/Santa Barbara area. Virginia officially retired in 2022 from FLIR Systems (formally Indigo) as a mechanical assembler.
Virginia gave birth to her eldest son and first grandchild to her parents and named after her father, Raul Lorca. She met the love of her life, Fredy Gutierrez at a club in downtown Santa Barbara in 1982. Virginia and Fredy added to their family with the births of daughter, Leana and son, Andres and settled into a happy married life in 1993 in Goleta, California.
She began her mornings listening to K-Lite morning shows with a breakfast pastry and coffee before starting her routines. A passionate sports fan, you could catch Virginia cheering on CA teams such as the Dodgers, 49ers and the Rams with her family. Each night, she’d relax by reading a multitude of magazines, watch old Hanna Barbera and Warner Brothers animated cartoons with her cat in her lap keeping her warm. No stranger to theme parks, Virginia enjoyed family trips to Disneyland and Universal Studios as often as she could. She also enjoyed watching all of the classic Disney movies.
One could always find Virginia tidying up something around the house, sweeping the driveway swaying to whatever music she was listening to, or calling up Fredy and her kids to check in on them. If she wasn’t with her kids or Fredy, she’d be with the multiple pets she’d raised throughout her life being an avid animal lover.
Virginia is survived by her love of 42 years, Fredy Gutierrez, her children Raul, Andres, and Leana, her grandsons Abel and Samuel Lorca, her many extended family members and friends. Descanse Ama, no te preocupes. Está con sus padres, su nieto Max, y mascotas.
Rosary Friday October 18th 7pm St. Raphael’s Catholic Church. Mass Saturday October 19th 2024 12pm St. Raphael’s Catholic Church.
Celebration of Life Reception to follow Mass. In lieu of flowers, please donate to Santa Barbara Humane Society