Maria Ramirez, 94, a sixty year resident of National City, CA, passed away in her sleep on January 9, 2018. She is survived by her husband of 69 years, Jesse Ramirez. Her long life of service to church and community includes many years of food preparation and work at fundraising for community and St. Anthony's Catholic Church. She taught religious education, led various church groups and fundraised to include the Guadalupanas Society, the Cursillo Movement, the ladies auxiliary of the VFW Post 4630, and the Knights of Columbus. She was also a Eucharistic Minister and a teacher of over 80 women's retreats. Mrs. Ramirez also delivered spiritual support and communion to many veterans in senior care residences in the community. She received lifetime recognition from the Catholic Diocese for her contribution to many years of mentoring, service and dedication.

Mrs. Ramirez, during her early years, served our country during WWII and the Korean Crisis for ten years as a riveter of military aircraft and ships. She was a true example of the "Can Do It" spirit of the Rosie the Riveter National Organization, for which she was a member for many years inspiring women of later generations that women stepped in to fill jobs vacated during the war, yet still raise a family and be active to causes of the less fortunate. For her service to country, she was entered into the WWII National Memorial in Washington DC, for her home front service along side her husband for his military service as well.

Her support of various activities include help to her husband as the National City Police Department Senior Patrol one-time Commadore, and his attempts at elections as National City Mayor and the School Board. Her service to community includes employment as a nurses' aid, a housekeeper, and any job that helped to put food on the table to assist and inspire every child and grandchild to receive Bachelors degrees or higher. She supported her husband's 30 year service in the U.S. Navy during combat assignments during WWII, Korea and Vietnam, often raising her family alone.

She is also survived by her three children, Michel, Josie and Celia as well as her three grandchildren and their spouses, and four great-grandchildren. Services include a rosary at 7:00pm on Jan 17 at the Community Mortuary in Chula Vista, CA. On January 18, a funeral mass at 10:00am at St. Anthony's Catholic Church, in National City, CA will be served with burial at Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery at 1:30pm, accompanied by a military salute. A long life of service to the National City community. Thank you.

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