Long time Los Alamitos resident Esther Mejia was born on May 1, 1915 at the corner of Katella and Walnut Streets, moved next door and remained there throughout the rest of her 98 years. She passed away peacefully in her home on Dec. 28, 2013.
Long time Los Alamitos resident Esther Mejia was born on May 1, 1915 at the corner of Katella and Walnut Streets, moved next door and remained there throughout the rest of her 98 years. She passed away peacefully in her home on Dec. 28, 2013.
Esther experienced the transition of Los Alamitos from rural and agricultural farmland to the introduction of automobiles, radio, television, technology and other life changing urban developments. Having lived in Los Alamitos during her entire life, Esther was a witness to the many changes of the city. She was blessed with an incredible memory and was relied upon by many people as a verbal historian of Los Alamitos, the Sugar Beet Factory, the old Orange Hotel, the local general store and rural life at that time.
She vividly remembered attending Laurel School in 1922, a two-story schoolhouse at the corner of Katella and Los Alamitos Blvd., where she established friendships with whom she remained close during her lifetime.
In 1936 Esther’s mother, Lupe Zamarripa, cooked meals for the farmhands who worked for the Bixby Ranch Company and this is how Esther met her future husband, Refugio. Esther and Refugio married at St. Isidore Catholic Church in 1937 and started their family of four daughters, Madeline, Veronica, Eva and Esther. She was a proud grandmother of nine grandchildren, 18 great grandchildren and one great-great grandchild. A devoted wife and mother, she skillfully juggled the many demands of an active, large and close family and remained the center of it throughout the years.
Esther faithfully used her skills spending countless hours helping at St. Isidore and was a member of the choir. She later attended mass regularly at St. Hedwig’s Church.
Esther made it all seem effortless, managing to arrive home in plenty of time to make homemade tortillas daily and serve home-cooked meals eaten nightly around her kitchen table with everyone present.
She was very creative and quite a seamstress. When the family was younger, she enjoyed sewing for her daughters. Her daughters remember waking up to the sounds of the Singer sewing machine. Esther also enjoyed knitting beautiful sweaters and blankets for the entire family. She alternated these routines by baking loaves of bread and delicious pies and cakes for everyone to enjoy. Her declining vision and advancing age did not allow her to continue her hobbies.
Her husband, Jose Refugio Mejia and her parents, Refugio Navarro and Guadalupe Zamarripa, preceded Esther in death. She is survived by her daughters Madeline Espinoza, Veronica Noguer, Eva Mejia Hilts (Tom) and Esther Murphy (Bruce). In addition to her daughters, grandchildren and great grandchildren, Esther is survived by her brothers Joseph, Arthur Stanley, Alex and her sister Nadine. The family is most grateful for the loving care provided by her caregivers, Domy, Yolanda, Carmen and Raquel.
All of Esther’s family and friends will miss her dearly and cherish the memories. In lieu of flowers, the family request donations may be made in her honor to St. Isidore Historical Plaza, 10961 Reagan Street, P. O. Box 1434, Los Alamitos, CA 90720.
