Obituary of Dolores Elsa Lopez

Dolores Elsa Lopez

September 5, 1941- October 30, 2020

 

Our mom, Dolores Elsa Lopez, also known as “Nana” to her granddaughters, passed away at home & joined our dad, George Lopez, in Heaven on Friday, October 30^th. 

 Dolores was born on September 5, 1941 to Clotilde & Frank Ledesma.  Back in the 1940’s she lived in the same neighborhood with her aunts, uncles & cousins and always talked about how great it was to live so close to family. While attending St. Rita’s school she met the love of her life, George Lopez. They moved on to Saints & Cathedral where they attended school dances and George joined the “Lads” social group.  On Cinco de Mayo of 1962, George & Dolores married and raised their four children- Lily, Donna, Virginia & Angel. They  enjoyed family gatherings and summer vacations. No matter where they traveled, all trips led through Las Vegas.  A native San Diegan who lived in Barrio Logan, North Park & Kensington, she was able to drive around San Diego without ever getting on the freeway. As kids she would take us on surface streets everywhere we needed to go. 

In 1986, Dolores began to experience aches & pains and was soon diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis. This painful and debilitating disease robbed Dolores of many things but she never let it stop her. Dolores & George went on cruises, attended their granddaughters’- soccer games, cheerleading, school events, graduations, confirmations and always attended grandparents’ day. They were avid travelers and took road trips across the USA. They would also do anything and everything for their cherished granddaughters- Marina, Erika, Maddie & Nikki.

 

 We are heartbroken by her passing. We take comfort in knowing she is at rest & with our dad dancing among the clouds. We choose to remember all the things she did to make us feel loved.  She is gone from earth but she lives on in our memories and in all that we do. Our memories come in snippets, glances in time to remind us of the love that binds us.   

Camping trips & cooking in the skillet

Packing up the motor home 

National Parks 

Watching Forensic files with Nana

Arts & Crafts with the granddaughters

Hair brushing and ponytails

Watching her cook & transform ingredients into yummy meals

Making us wash dishes and clean our rooms

Decorating the house for all the holidays

Refried beans made with bacon grease

Lipstick & nail polish

Sharing her addiction to soap operas with her granddaughters

Holding my hand as we walked through the mall

Lunch at the Woolworth’s counter & splitting a BLT

Bob’s Big Boy lunches

“Little Bird”

Nana & Tata cheering on their cheerleaders @ Saints games

Telling dad everything we bought was on sale

Beauty salon hair washes & sitting under the dryer

Sitting on Nana’s lap and getting pushed in the wheelchair around the zoo

The smell of perm solution

Fresh flowers at Thanksgiving

Christmas Garland archway

The magic of her Nativity set

Bunco parties with her friends

Family rituals- tamale making, pumpkin carving, Easter baskets, Valentine family dinner

A full sock basket 

Road trip snacks for dad & us

Standing in line for Yosemite showers and the smell of Prell

The taste of fideo, the smell of albondigas, the crunch of shredded beef & potato tacos

Ceramic painting – spoon holder, vases, Christmas tree

 A cross above the door

Family Dinners where all were welcome

The jangle of her bracelets and shine from her rings

The comforting hugs

Salt & Pepper shakers 

Antique shopping and endless supply of knick knacks

Caring for her granddaughters

Her generosity

The bubble gum jar in Nana’s closet

Back scratches & face tickles

Christmas plates 

The “I love you’s”

How grateful we are to have so many things that make saying goodbye so hard. 

We love you mom!

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