Elena Rojo Rico's Obituary
Elena Rojo Rico November 18, 1929 – August 18, 2025
Our mother was born Elena Rojo Navarro in Santa Rita, a rural ranchito in Jalisco, Mexico to parents Celia Navarro Dueñas and Francisco Rojo Soto. The third oldest, she had 11 brothers and sisters. As a young adult she spent time in Mexico City, earning a certificate in dressmaking on September 30, 1953, learning to design, cut and sew garments.
Mom married our father Manuel Rico Barragan on May 28, 1957, and moved to Mexicali, Baja California. After several months they moved to Tijuana, Baja California. There she gave birth to 5 live children, Blanca Lilia (Lily), Luis Fernando, Francisco Alejandro (Alex), Maria Mercedes, and Maria Elena; the sixth and last Manuel was stillborn. The family moved to San Jose, California on May 3, 1965, where she continued her life as a homemaker, sewing clothes for her 3 daughters and caring for her family. She took ESL classes and learned a bit of English. The family returned to southern California in 1972, where she tended a small corner grocery store in Tijuana alongside our father. After our father passed away in 1986, she moved to the Los Angeles area with her daughter Maria Elena in 1989 to help care for her grandson Manuel. She returned to San Diego in early 2000, living with her son Alex.
Elena’s greatest legacy are her grandchildren. Named “Vita” by her eldest grandson Juan Carlos, she doted over him, Ivan, Jessie, Frank, Manuel, Bianca, Andy, Eddie, Citlali and Xiomara. She had two great-grandchildren, Alyssa and Justin. Whenever there was unwrapping of gifts, you would hear her calling out “oh boy” to each gift opened.
Mom loved to cook. She made the best flour tortillas, with family and friends alike always asking if she was making tortillas and waiting to eat one off the comal with butter or beans. She cooked amazing chicken mole, tamales, pineapple cheesecake and cookies made with La Lechera. She was always generous with all her family and loved to go shopping to buy gifts for everyone, especially when visiting family in Santa Rita. She was known to stand outside of Mervyns early Black Fridays for the early bird deals.
She loved to travel, making yearly trips to her beloved ranchito Santa Rita. Mom went to Puerto Vallarta, Cancun, and Europe with her sisters, as well as Niagara Falls, New York, Washington D.C., Orlando, Miami, Chicago, Las Vegas, Laughlin, the Bay area, and so many other trips with her children.
Our mother Elena’s health began to decline in 2021, and she passed away in her sleep early August 18, 2025, at the age of 95. Mom lived a long life and knew she was loved and cherished by her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. She will live forever in our hearts.
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