Helen V. Rodriguez; 7th-Generation Resident

Helen Valenzuela Rodriguez, a homemaker and lifelong resident of Oxnard, died Saturday in a local hospital following a lengthy illness. She was 67.

She was born Nov. 27, 1929, in her family’s home on Hayes Street. A seventh-generation Californian, “Goldie,” as she was known, was the second child born that year to Louis Valenzuela and Julia Varela, and the second of the couple’s nine children.

Rodriguez, who was of Chumash Indian descent, used to say that some of the fondest memories from her childhood were the summers she spent working the fields of Central California, alongside her father and sisters.

“She also worked at Coastal Valley Canning Co. in Oxnard for almost 25 years,” said her niece, Sylvia Valenzuela-Uren of Oxnard. “Everybody knows that as La Chileria. That’s where they canned the Ortega chilies.”

Rodriguez, who attended Oxnard High School, also worked on the production line at the Stokely frozen food processing plant in Oxnard for 20 years.

Valenzuela-Uren recalls her aunt being proud of her Native American ancestry, and says that when she is laid to rest on Wednesday she will be buried alongside relatives including her great-great-great-great-grandfather.

“She was a beautiful, free-loving spirit who loved to dance while in her youth,” her niece said.

Rodriguez spent her later years between her family’s two homes in Oxnard and Delano.

Rodriguez was preceded in death by her parents, and sisters Mary Louise and Virginia Olivarez.

She is survived by her husband, Raul, of Delano; daughters Arlene Baylon, Loretta Gutierrez, Dolores Ramos, Julie Avalos Schneider and Sandy Avalos; sons Robert, Freddie, Armando and Arthur Avalos, and Louie Rodriguez.

Rodriguez is also survived by sisters Frances Valenzuela of Oxnard, Linda V. Morales of Ojai and Estelle V. Estrada of Sun City; and brothers Louie Jr., Gilbert and Robert Valenzuela. She also is survived by 28 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.

Visitation is from 1 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at James A. Reardon Mortuary, Oxnard. A Christian service will be held at 6 p.m., with Pastor Zeke Rodriguez of the Amor Outreach, in Arizona officiating. A sage service for her Native American ancestry from Ventura County will follow.

A graveside service will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Ivy Lawn Memorial Park in Ventura, with Pastor Rodriguez officiating.

Arrangements are under the direction of James A. Reardon Mortuary, Oxnard.