Margaret Nieto Castaneda

Margaret Nieto Castaneda, born February 5, 1931, died at her home in Cypress on January 20, 2022, at the age of 90. Margaret, known to family as "Honey", was preceded in death by her loving husband, Fred, her daughter Maria Guadalupe, parents Jose and Delfina Nieto, four brothers and three sisters. Margaret was born and raised in Long Beach, attending St. Anthony's High School, and worked at St. Mary's and Long Beach Memorial Hospitals until getting married to Fred in July 1951. After her first child died, she and Fred went on to have four sons and one daughter. In October 1961, Margaret and Fred moved to Cypress, where they raised their children. Margaret was a stay-at-home mom, taking her sons to football and baseball practices and keeping the house in order. She began working as a teacher's aide at Mackay Elementary School in Cypress in the mid-1970s. She loved working with the students and helping the teachers, eventually working at King Elementary School until she retired in 1993. Margaret was able to enjoy 18 months of retirement with her husband until he became ill and died three months later from cancer. Widowed, she remained in her home in Cypress and cherished visits from her children and watching her grandchildren grow. Margaret loved talking with her sisters, cooking Mexican food for her family, crossword puzzles and was a master at jigsaw puzzles.

Margaret is survived by her children Henry, Manuel, Fred Jr., John, and Margaret (Olson), ten grandchildren, eight great grandchildren, her sisters, Matilda Castaneda and Josie Jackson, and many nieces and nephews. She will be loved and remembered by her family and friends for all she gave and the beautiful person she was in life. Her spirit and legacy will live on through her family.