Mary Magdalena Candelaria Obituary
Mary Magdalena Candelaria (Martinez) passed away on Monday, August 12, 2024 in Grapevine, Texas, at the age of 102. She was born on July 22, 1922 in Chilito, AZ, a small mining town near Tucson. She was the youngest of 4 children born to Antonio and Alicia Martinez and was raised in Hayden, AZ where her father worked in the copper mines of that region. Following the death of her mother, her father found himself unable to work in the mines while at the same time caring for his young family. Antonio made the brash decision to ask that his youngest daughter Mary, age 10, go live with Maria Garcia, Mary's Godmother and the local mid-wife. Mary was welcomed and formed strong emotional ties remaining with Maria until age 17, when she moved from Arizona to join an older step-sister working in Los Angeles, California. Mary soon learned of and pursued a domestic position with the socially and politically well-connected Muehe family of Pasadena, California. Mary's charming demeanor won her the position in the Muehe home that she worked in for a number of years (c. 1939-46), developing a strong and long-lived bond with the Muehe's.
In the latter part of World War II, Mary volunteered to serve as 'pen pal' to a number of American servicemen overseas. Among her correspondents she was introduced to a soldier who had lived in the Pomona area of southern California. Over the months she established correspondence and a personal relationship with this particular soldier, her husband-to-be, Eriberto (Eddie) Lucero Candelaria. Originally from Hatch, NM, Eddie and several of his siblings had moved to Pomona, Calif. to join their mother who had moved there some years earlier. After the war, Eddie reached out to Mary asking if she would meet with him. She agreed to meet him, quickly fell in love and they were eventually married.
Mary and Eddie had five children over the ensuing years, 3 sons and 2 daughters: Leonard - born 1947; Cilvea - born 1949; Magell - born 1955; Ronald - born 1958; and Corinne - born 1963. The children attended the public schools of the Ontario School District and excelled academically and in sports and music. Although neither Mary nor Eddie had pursued schooling beyond 7th grade during the Great Depression years, the eight university degrees ultimately earned by their children, collectively, were a source of great pride for the parents.
In 1952, the young Candelaria family purchased their first home in the area that later became known as Montclair, CA, where they resided for over 30 years. In 1985, with the youngest child graduated from college, Mary and Eddie moved to Colorado where they enjoyed the change of pace and the scenery, but after only a few years Eddie's ill-health forced a move to Denton, Tx to be near family. A short stop there was followed by relocation back to California, to a residence in Victorville. Eddie's sudden passing in 1993 left Mary a widow of some 17 years before she moved to live with daughter and husband in Hendersonville, NC. She enjoyed life there in the Appalachian Mountains for several years before declining health necessitated a move to Dancing River Assisted Living and Memory Care residence in Grapevine, TX. At Dancing River, she was closer to several of her adult children and there she resided comfortably, until her death.
Mary Candelaria is survived by five children, 7 grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren and 3 great-great-grandchildren. Mary is also survived by numerous nephews and nieces. Her direct descendants include.
Dr. Leonard Candelaria (wife Dr. Kathryn Fouse) of Belton, TX; Cilvea Metzger (husband James) of Hendersonville, NC; Magell Candelaria (wife Kathleen) of Grapevine, TX; Ron Candelaria (wife Jan Hernandez) of Rancho Cucamonga, CA; and Corinne Candelaria (husband Michael Hammond) of Houston, TX.
7 grandchildren: Dara Candelaria, Gabriel Candelaria, Alexander Candelaria-Fouse, and Arianna Candelaria-Fouse, Ryan Candelaria, Erin Candelaria and McKenna Candelaria.
11 great-grandchildren: Mikayla Krelie, Garrett Simington, Dakota Simington, Trevor Simington, Taylor Marie Candelaria, Loren Candelaria, Siena Candelaria, Eriberto Lee Candelaria, Emma Rose Lawlor, Harper Lee Lane and Asher Sally Lane.
3 great-great-grandchildren: Leona Krelie, Adam Krelie and Daniella Candelaria, Mary (Grandma 'Candy' as known by the younger generations) was loved and highly revered by all family members for her gentle spirit, strong-willed sensibilities, her loving acceptance and support, and her loyalty. For her entire life she was regarded as the Queen Mother of the extended Candelaria family and she will be missed by all, in ways beyond what words can express.
Que Diós to bendíga para siempre querida madre.
Siemprev te recordarémos con amor en nuestros corazones.
(May God bless you forever, dear mother. We will always remember you with love in our hearts.).
