Obituaries

Jennie Borrego Jennie Borrego was called home to rejoice in the Glory of the Lord on Sunday, January 9, 2005.Jennie was born to the union of Cesario and Concepcion Cervantez on July 26, 1919 in Santa Ana, California, where she lived the first few years of her life. Her family later moved to Sespe Ranch in Fillmore, where she and her brothers and sisters formed an instrumental band that played for parties and weddings. Jennie played the piano, and at one such party she met the love of her life, Benjamin C. Borrego, to whom she was married for 65 years.Although she had a limited education, having only completed 6th grade, she possessed talent, wisdom and intelligence that surpassed formal education. Her greatest gift was her ability to love unconditionally each and every person she met.Jennie worked in the citrus packinghouses of Santa Paula for over 42 years. It was there where she made many lasting friendships. It was one such friend who said that when she met our mother, she met an angel. Jennie also worked seasonally for the Gentry’s Chili Factory in Oxnard.As the matriarch of the family, many of her nieces and nephews looked to her as their mother. Much loved because of her compassion, her warmth and wisdom, her understanding and her ability to just listen and accept, and of course because of her great cooking, her grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews and dear friends flocked to her side with great love and affection. She cherished the time spent with each and every one of them, and she felt great joy when they took time to call and send her cards and flowers.“Angel” is defined as divine messenger, ministering spirit, a person with the qualities of such a spirit as gentleness and purity. Our mother was a manifestation of these gifts and of God’s great love. She was an angel on earth.Jennie was preceded in death by her loving husband, Benjamin C. Borrego. She is survived by her son Benjamin “Butch” Borrego, Jr. and his wife Gloria of Port Hueneme; daughters, Yolanda “Candy” Helgesen and Angela “Gordie” Borrego-Chavez and her husband Henry of Santa Paula; grandchildren, Debbie Borrego Pena of Oxnard, Ben J. Borrego of Port Hueneme, Elizabeth Moten and husband Richard of Santa Paula, Ronald Casas and wife Chrissie of South Carolina, and Kelly Nava and husband Silvestre of Santa Paula; 17 great-grandchildren; and five great-great-grandchildren.Special thanks to Assisted Hospice of Ventura, especially Nurse Josephine, Chaplain Lorraine Black, Healthcare Assistant Lois, Social-worker Jennifer and Dr. Pankratz; her dear Dr. Jon Schrock and the late Dr. Alan Peterson, and their staff; and Father Art Gomez and Father Charles Lueras of Our Lady of Guadalupe Church.Funeral mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. on Friday, January 14 at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church, 427 N. Oak St., Santa Paula. Burial will follow at Pierce Brothers Santa Paula Cemetery.Arrangements are under the direction of Funeraria del ángel Stetler Mortuary, 128 S. 8th St., Santa Paula, phone 525-5595.Maria C. Rivas