Oralia (Lala) Padilla's Obituary
Oralia Padilla was her name but she went by many names: LaLa, Hon, Mommy, Mother, Mom, Grandmother, Grandma, Gramma and Little Gramma. No matter what her extended family called her, she was always the personification of love and family.
Lala passed away on the morning of May 12th surrounded by her family. She was 89. Born in Divine Texas, she attended Divine High School and San Antonio Secretarial Academy. In 1946, she married Augustine Padilla, and had four children: Alfonzo, Cynthia, Anthony and Michael.
She was a compassionate person. She loved her family, friends, colleagues and clients. She had the gift of gab and somehow was able to have complete strangers share their life story with her, within their very first conversations.
Her children were always the biggest part of her life. She not only attended all our functions she actively participated, as Den Mother for Cub Scouts and working as Little League concession stand manager. When her grandchildren came along, she never missed a graduation, concert or sporting event.
Lala was a well educated, highly intelligent person. She showed this when in 1967 she was hired by the Presbytery Ministry as a case worker, later being promoted to Director of Emergency Assistance Services. In 1988 she was presented with a Proclamation from the City of San Diego, which read in part:
Whereas, Lala, in responding to discovered needs, created a compassionate ministry by establishing an emergency food pantry and free clothing distribution program, and assisted Spanish speaking persons to assimilate into the community.
Whereas, Lala faithfully and cheerfully served thousands of men, women, and children in need regardless of their ethnicity, religious beliefs, or life circumstances.
Therefore, I, Maureen O’Connor, Thirty-first Mayor of the City of San Diego, do hereby proclaim May 23, 1988 to be “Oralia (Lala) Padilla Day” in San Diego.
Lala taught her children strong values and the importance of family, faith, hard work, kindness, tolerance, generosity, forgiveness and love, most of all love. She was a strong woman, stubborn, gentle, but direct, and had an amazing ability to make friends.
A unique soul, Lala loved life and enjoyed shared activities with her husband such as bowling, golf, fishing, Padres games and traveling in their RV.
Lala’s family is comforted by the fact that she is in heaven making friends as easily as she did on earth and that her son, Tony, is there to take of her or more than likely she will be taking care of him.
She will be greatly missed by her husband, Gus: surviving children Al (Merry), Cyndee (Craig) Sabetti & Mike (Nancy Lones), grandchildren Seann Padilla, Sara (Juan) Lovato, Stephanie (Derek) Carrillo, Iann (Kisha) Padilla, Stephen (Daniela) Sabetti, Simone (Ryan) Farabee and Melani Bruce; great-grand children
Lara, Abigail & Grace Lovato and Sadie & Catalina Carrillo. Son, Tony (Cheryl), preceded her in death. A memorial Mass will be held at Holy Family Catholic Church on May 28, 2015 at 1:30 PM.
Mom there’s a hole in our hearts that will never be filled until we see you again. We love you.
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