Julia Medina Núñez

After living for nearly 91 years, Julia Medina Núñez shot off to the stars on March 27, 2023. Julia, our Juju, was born in Brawley, CA to Felicitas Macias Medina and Seferino Guerrero Núñez. She was the eldest daughter of 11 living siblings. She was devoted to her family and managed the house while their mother worked. After completing her sophomore year of high school, she decided to stay home full-time to care for her youngest siblings. Taking pride in having a clean and orderly home and being frugal was important to her throughout her life.

In 1972, Julia left Brawley and moved to San Diego to be with her youngest siblings. She worked as a nurse aide for over 20 years. In 1996, Julia moved to Bermuda Dunes to help take care of her widowed mother and became a member of the St. Francis of Assisi parish in La Quinta, CA. She drove to church every morning at 5 am to clean the candles before mass started. She prayed daily for everyone she knew – for their health and that they live their purpose and achieve their full potential in life. 

Julia loved to be surrounded by family and wrote letters to stay in touch. When you visited her, chances were she was outside gardening and tending to her yard. She was able to do this up until the very end of her life. If she wasn’t gardening, she was devouring a book. She loved learning. She expressed that when she passed away, her spirit would fly all over the world to find out about the origin of cultures and the history of the world. 

Juju was a big time conservationist, especially with water. She supported ocean water importation and even performed in a skit at a community event to raise awareness and build support for the full restoration of the Salton Sea. She was known to send money to veterans and other charities and nieces and nephews to help them pay for books and other school related costs because she believed in the power of education. 

She had so many beautiful ideas about how to live. She is survived by her siblings Rosa, Josefina, Fidel, Rafael, and Felicitas and countless nephews and nieces. She will be greatly missed by so many. Please celebrate her legacy by talking and tending to your plants, being there for your loved ones, picking up a new book, or taking that class.

A memorial gathering will be held at the American Legion in Brawley on Saturday, April 8 at 12 noon. Bring your own water/drinks.

Mass will be celebrated at her parish, St. Francis of Assisi, in La Quinta on Thursday, April 20 at 10:00 am. A small reception will follow.