Juanita Manuela Sanchez Padilla Calautti (Mama)

May 4, 1925 - Apr. 11, 2015

Juanita came to the United States from Costa Rica and assimilated with our culture; she loved this country. She and her husband proudly became US citizens. Juanita was born one of ten children.

Caring for her siblings was never a burden; in fact, it seemed to be her calling. Mama had only one child, Marjorie Welch, who gave her three grandchildren: Ramona, Stephanie and Arthur, who gave her seven great grandsons: Brandon, Garrett, Ryan, Reese, Riley, Ramsey and Rowan. This year she became a great great grandmother to a baby girl, Mia. She always enjoyed all her grandchildren and great grandchildren; babysitting and cooking were always joys of hers. She particularly enjoyed nanny work for her close friends and their children Cassandra, Michael and Daniel. Mama was always cooking up something for her loved ones to name just a couple of her specialties: tacos mama style, homemade tortillas with tomato salad and OMG cabbage salad. In the last months her dementia diminished her fond memories. She had increased agitation and physical disabilities however, she was well cared for by her daughter Marjorie Welch, her granddaughter Stephanie Baxter and her husband Michael Baxter, her great grandson Brandon Baxter and his girlfriend Cailey Hardy, neighbors and close friends Roy and Pam Houghton, caregivers Izzy and Victoria and most of all her great grandson Garrett Baxter and his fiancée Brandilyn Wyke.

Mama is preceded in death by her husband Angel and great grandson Ramsey, as well as eight siblings. She leaves behind her last remaining sibling Marta, her only daughter, two granddaughters and their husbands, a grandson and the mothers of his two sons, six great grandsons, one great great granddaughter and her mother, several nieces and nephews from her Calautti and Sanchez sides. Following is a quote that seemingly fits living with a dementia patient; it seemed sad at first, now just remembering all the temper tantrums and mischievous acts makes the ones who were there to see her at the end smile.

Love is a fire. But whether it is going to warm your hearth or burn down your house, you can never tell. Mama will truly be missed she loved her family and friends deeply. She passed away peacefully in the hospital cared for with dignity and respect by an amazing team. The family would like to express gratitude to Dr. Sexton, nurses; Darrell, Debby and Lois, case managers; Crystal and Buffy you were a blessing. Services will be held at Walton’s Chapel of the Valley Funeral Home April 17, 2015 with a public viewing from 11am to 1pm funeral service to begin at 1pm. To sign the online guestbook go to www.waltonsfuneralhomes.com