Eva N. Padua

Eva N. Padua, 77, born on December 2, 1938, in Mexico D. F., Mexico, passed away February 19, 2016. She resided in Los Angeles, California, at the time of her passing. She was born to Guadalupe Gutierrez and Ricardo Naranjo and raiised by her single mom. She later became the oldest of 4 sisters who she helped raise. In December of 1952 she met the love of her life, Daniel T. Padua, at a Christmas party. All it took was one dance for the two to fall in love. They married two years later. They were married for 54 years at the time of Daniel's passing.

Eva was the mother of five children: Jesus, Maria Luisa, Miguel Angel, Isaac Daniel, and Luz Maria. In 1969, Eva and her four children at the time, immigrated to Los Angeles, CA to join her husband who had immigrated a year prior. Later that year, Eva and her family moved to the house on 24th Street where she lived until the time of her death. Eva was a biological mother to five, but helped raise more than a dozen children - her sisters, grandchildren, and neighborhood kids in need of child care.

Eva's legacy is her love for God, family and children. She was a dedicated mother, strong, courageous, funny, an amazing cook, super witty, smart, and a defender of justice. She was a pacifist unless someone harmed her loved ones, then she became a mama bear.

The last seven years of her life were bitter sweet. She was devastated when her life partner, Daniel, died of cancer in February of 2009. And yet, was delighted to witness the birth of her youngest grandchild, Isabella Padua Ornelas, just two months later. The two lived together for several years and had a sisterly bond. The beauty of Mom, as most called her, was her unique ways of creating special bonds with every member of her family. Whether through food, song, dance, humor, she made everyone feel like they had a special bond with her. She is sorely missed by all!

Eva is survived by her five children Jesus N. Padua, Maria Luisa Mendoza, Miguel Angel Padua, Isaac Daniel Padua, and Luz Maria Padua Ornelas; thirteen grandchildren: Jesus E. Padua, Omar Padua, Miguel Ricardo Padua, Andrew Padua, Eric J. Padua, Monica Castillo Padua, Emmanuel J. Mendoza, Noemi R. Mendoza, Habraham I. Mendoza, , Sarah M. Padua, Abiah D. Padua, Bryssa G. Padua, and Isabella Padua Ornelas; and eight great grandchildren: Matthew Santoyo-Padua, Ashley Padua, Joshua Padua, Niick Padua, Vanessa Padua, Adam J. and Lucas D. Castillo; five son/daughter-in-laws: Mercedes Padua, Jose Mendoza, Martha Padua, Christina Padua, and Jesus Ornelas; four grandchildren's spouses: Diana Santoyo Padua, Adriana Padua, Angie Padua, and Mike Castillo; three sisters: Rebeca Jimenez, Marta Jimenez, and Alicia Anaya; and numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews...

Arrangements are under the direction of Forest Lawn, Cypress, California.