Joella Calderon

Our beautiful mother, Joella Calderon, left this world peacefully on May 8, 2019 She was born July 13, 1927 in Mexico to Fermin and Mariana Martinez, and was the second child of a very large family. They moved to the United States when she was 6 months old. She traveled extensively - her family were farmworkers. She said they were poor but didn’t know it. She spoke of playing baseball and being better than the boys, and loved school but because they moved so much she did not complete her education. She had a lot of common sense and was one of the smartest persons we know. She became a naturalized citizen in 1992. At the age of 22 she married William O. Calderon, he knew that marrying her was the best thing he had ever accomplished in his life. Mom worked and helped put dad thru school, while raising her first son, Alexander, enabling dad to pursue his career as a Mechanical Engineer. They enjoyed traveling throughout the United States and Mexico. They often held parties with many good friends and lots of music. Mom spent most of her married life in Fremont, CA. She was an active member of the Guadalupanos, from the Parish of Santa Paula Catholic Church now known as Our Lady of Guadalupe. She loved her garden, tiny dogs and birds. She could spend all day in her sewing room. She also loved to sing. Devoted wife of William Calderon, beloved mother of Alexander and wife Veronica, Rebecca and husband Kirk, and William Jr. Loving grandmother of Adriana and husband Andy, Melanie and husband Danny, Erica and husband Robert, Katy and husband Taylor, Karly and her cat Paris. Great grandmother of Alessandra, Adam, Penelope, Dakota, Nate, Jonah, Tristan and Danny. She is also survived by her beloved Pomeranian, Rosie. Alex and Rebecca are forever grateful to their brother, Bill who took good care of mom for so long. Mom’s last years were difficult, she could not walk, she could not see, and her memory was not good. But now that she has passed, I feel her presence behind my right shoulder. She is walking. She is singing. She is happy.