Ruth "Cuca" Vaca

Ruth “Cuca” Vaca was born in Santa Paula, California on March 21st, 1929 as the sixth of nine children to Pedro and Micaela Vaca. After making their start in America by picking lemons at the Ventura County Limoneira, Pedro, and Micaela went on to own a successful grocery store in Santa Paula. Though they tragically passed away by the time Ruth was ten, she shared her happy memories of them for the rest of her life.
She was a hard-worker with many passions, including traveling to visit family and spoiling her two awful pet Chihuahuas. She was a lifetime member of Our Lady of Guadalupe Church, where she was baptized and completed her First Holy Communion and Confirmation. She enjoyed reading, gambling, and tending to her garden, which was so beautiful that strangers often stopped to compliment it.
An orphan herself, Ruth went on to have nine children, always keeping food on the table and fresh clothes on their backs despite life’s setbacks. She is remembered by all who knew her as a devoted mother and nurturer who lived her life with kindness, class, and laughter. Her house was known as the place where everyone was always welcome; and it was that house where she was always happiest, whether she was hosting a family barbeque or sitting on her front porch people-watching. Ruth passed away on January 8th, 2021 of COVID. Though she will be greatly missed, her family finds solace in the fact that she lived a long, fulfilling life and is now residing in Heaven with her parents, siblings, and the four children (Baby Rachel, Robert Ortiz, Olga Ortiz, and Ramona Juarez) and one grandchild (John John Jaurez) who preceded her.
Ruth is survived by her siblings Mary Mata, Olivia Vaca, and Peter Vaca; children Alice Vasquez (Louie), Marjorie Barraza, Johnny Barraza (Valerie), Mary Ann Barraza, Eva Vasquez (Marty), Joey Ortiz (Nikki), and daughter-in-law Laura Ortiz; and 22 grandchildren, 29 great-grandchildren, 20 great-great-grandchildren, and 2 great-great-great grandchildren.
The funeral will be held at Our Lady of Guadalupe in Santa Paula, on February 1st (Rosary at 9:30 a.m. and Mass at 10 a.m.) with the burial directly after. Due to COVID-19, services will be held outside and everyone will need to provide their own chair. There will be no reception to follow.

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