Helen Lydia Lopez

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Helen Lydia Lopez on July 14, 2023. She was 79 years old. Our beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and sister, Helen, who we all knew as “Nani”, was born on August 3, 1943 to Eleodoro “Leo” and Helen (Ramirez) Martinez in Oxnard, California.
She attended school throughout Oxnard, graduating from Santa Clara Catholic High School. She started her career in the administration office of the original St. John’s Hospital on F Street. She also worked at various schools within the Oxnard Elementary School District, with her final position as an attendance clerk at the district office, a total of 27 years before her retirement.
Her volunteering began as a Catechism teacher for St Anthony’s Parish. While raising her family and working, she became more involved in the community. For 38 years she served as the President of Sunset Little League in Oxnard. In that time, she not only led the league and lobbied local politicians to improve the park, she also befriended many people and mentored many as a life coach. She had a huge heart and believed everyone deserved a chance to prove themselves. Her goal was to ensure kids had a safe place to go and to learn how to be a part of a sports team. She wanted to keep vulnerable kids off the streets by providing them a promise that if they really wanted to play ball, and promised to try, that she would make sure they could, free of charge.
She helped hundreds of kids to become good adults. In honor of her heartfelt dedication and great commitment and service to the league, Oxnard City Council recently recognized and sanctioned the renaming of the minor field at Durley Park as “Helen Lopez Field”. Her legacy will live on. She will be missed, but never forgotten.
Helen was preceded in death by her mom and dad, Leo and Helen. She is survived by her husband of 59 years, Oscar “Tony” Lopez, known to many as “Honey”, son Carey (Michelle), Daughter Sandra, son Bryan (Marie), brother Romeo Martinez (Barbara) of Arizona, sister Ruth “Cookie” Orta (Robert) of Illinois, and sister Yolanda Trigg (Steve) of Colorado, along with 10 grandchildren, and 7 great-grandchildren.
A rosary will be held for Helen at Reardon Mortuary on A Street in Oxnard at 7pm on August 8. A mass will be held at 10am at Santa Clara Church on E Street in Oxnard on August 9, with burial service immediately following at Santa Clara Catholic Cemetery in Oxnard.

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