Refugio Nevarez; 71-Year Santa Paula Resident

Refugio Nevarez, a Santa Paula resident for 71 years, died Saturday at the Fillmore Convalescent Center. She was 96.

Nevarez was born July 4, 1900, in Chihuahua, Mexico. She emigrated to El Paso at age 7 and moved to Ventura County in 1925, where she spent the rest of her life.

Nevarez worked at several packinghouses in the Santa Paula area prior to her retirement. She planned much of her life around the annual harvest of lemons, lima beans, walnuts and other crops that were at one time a staple of the county’s agricultural economy.

“That was all she did,” said her daughter-in-law, Tillie Nevarez of El Rio. “She didn’t have any hobbies.”

Nevarez’s brother, Joe Villa, of Santa Paula, said much of his sister’s time was occupied rearing her three boys. “She was a hard-working housewife,” he said.

Nevarez is survived by three sons: Richard Nevarez of El Rio, Eulalio Nevarez Jr. of Ventura, and Henry Nevarez of Yuma, Ariz.; her brother, Villa, and a sister, Angelita Bustamante of Santa Paula; 10 grandchildren and several great-grandchildren.

A rosary will be recited at 7 p.m. Wednesday at Pierce Brothers Stetler Mortuary in Santa Paula. Visitation will be held from 4 to 9 p.m. Wednesday at the mortuary.

Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Thursday at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church in Santa Paula. Private interment will follow at Santa Paula Cemetery.

Arrangements are under the direction of Pierce Brothers Stetler Mortuary, Santa Paula.