Ida P. Archer; Oxnard Sister City Representative

Ida Pearl Archer of Santa Paula, who represented Oxnard in a Sister City program with a Mexican city, died Saturday at Santa Paula Memorial Hospital. She was 76.

Archer was born Dec. 14, 1923, in the province of Bocas Del Toro in Panama. In 1952 she moved to New York state from Panama City with her husband, Bruce Archer, so he could attend college.

Archer earned a bachelor’s degree in art from Panama College and raised the family’s six children in the United States. Later, she worked as a cashier for IBM.

After 29 years in New York, Archer and her husband moved to California and eventually settled in Ventura County, where they lived for 17 years.

Archer attended the Marian Movement Cenacle Prayer Group and the Monday night prayer group at St. Sebastian Catholic Church. She also volunteered with Catholic Charities.

A travel lover, she vacationed in many U.S. cities and went to Octlan, Mexico, in 1984 and 1987 as a representative of Oxnard in the Sister City program. In Octlan, she and her husband stayed in families’ homes, then later hosted those families in the United States.

Archer was outgoing and compassionate, her husband said. It took years for her to master the English language, but he said that didn’t stop her from expressing herself.

Archer enjoyed parties, dancing and cooking.

Archer is survived by her husband, Bruce Archer of Santa Paula, six grown children, eight grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

A rosary will be said at 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Stetler Mortuary Chapel. A funeral Mass will be said at 9 a.m. Wednesday at St. Sebastian Catholic Church. Interment will be private. Visitation at the mortuary is from noon to 9 p.m. Tuesday.

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