Obituaries : Beatrice Mendoza; Lifelong Santa Paula Resident

Beatrice V. Mendoza, a lifelong Santa Paula resident and preschool teacher’s aide, died Thursday at her home. She was 72.

Mendoza was born Dec. 19, 1922, in Santa Paula. Her daughter, Barbara A. Rios, said teachers at the local kindergarten wouldn’t let her attend because she was so small.

“She was so short, they wouldn’t let her in until she was about 6,” her daughter said.

Mendoza was well-known in town after working for more than 20 years for the Santa Paula Elementary School District as a teacher’s aide for the local preschool.

She loved children but was forced to retire in 1984 because of her health, Rios said.

“She was great with children,” her daughter said. “She just loved them. She was one of the first teacher’s aides here. After she started, you heard more and more about people working as teacher’s aides.”

Although she loved to garden, her daughter said, her true pastime was her 11 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

“She lived for them,” Rios said. “They were her life.”

In addition to her daughter, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, Mendoza is survived by her husband, Isaac F. Mendoza of Santa Paula; three sons, Isaac F. Mendoza Jr. of Ontario, and Robert V. Mendoza and Steven V. Mendoza of Santa Paula; daughters, Rosanna V. Mendoza of Santa Paula, and several nieces and nephews.

Rosary services will be held at 7:30 p.m. Sunday at Pierce Brothers Stetler Mortuary, and Mass will be celebrated at 9 a.m. Monday at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church with Father Rene Juarez officiating. Burial will follow at Santa Paula Cemetery.