Jessie Tafoya

Did you feel the tears of angels falling on the morning of December 12, 2017? They weren’t tears of sorrow but tears of joy because one of earth’s angels was going home. The angel’s name was Jessie Mary Tafoya, age 94. Jessie was born in the state of Sinaloa, Mexico. This came to be because her mother had traveled to Mexico to bring her own mother back to Farmersville, CA to be present for Jessie’s birth. As fate would have it, Jessie was born before her mother returned home and Jessie went on her first train ride at the age of three months to return to Farmersville. Jessie was born on December 6, 1922. Her parents were Pedro and Cayetana Anguiano. She was preceded in death by her siblings; Joe Anguiano, Nellie Sanchez, Josie Hernandez, Leonard Anguiano, Polly Gasca, and Daniel Ybarra. In 1945, Jessie married her husband of sixty-three years, Romaldo (Rudy) M. Tafoya, who preceded her in death in 2008. Together they opened the R & J Market in Farmersville and ran it successfully until their retirement. Their retirement gave them time to work on their walnut ranch, care for grandchildren, and for Jessie to help out with any church activity and fundraiser that came along. She was a member of St. Anthony’s Church in Farmersville and Sacred Heart Church in Exeter, CA. She was honored by them as the Woman of the Year for her devotion to helping others. She was also a member of St. Mary’s Church of Visalia. Jessie is survived by her sons Santos Tafoya and his wife, Lori of Arroyo Grande, CA and Pete Tafoya of Port Hueneme, CA; daughters Rachel Felix and her husband Charles and Patricia Andrews and her husband Dennis of Visalia, CA. She was preceded in death by her son David Tafoya. She is also survived by her grandchildren StevenTafoya, Jennifer Tafoya, Anthony Tafoya, Sarah Tafoya, Christina Tafoya, Jessie Blibaum, Courtney Felix Costa, Charles Felix, Matthew Andrews and Meagan Andrews and three great-grandchildren; Max Costa, Alex Winslow, and Rachel Winslow. If you were lucky enough to have known Jessie her children think you would agree that she was full of life. She was a joy-filled person who loved to laugh, cook, and dance. She had vegetable gardens and chickens and pigs on the ranch. She grew every fruit and nut tree and tended to them with care. She loved having company and cooking for her family and friends. She made everyone feel welcome and at home. She was generous, kind, selfless, and always willing to lend a helping hand. But her greatest achievement was as a mother. Jessie worked every day of her life to make her children’s lives better. She was our biggest cheerleader and supporter. She was never too busy for her children or grandchildren. There are no words to express what she meant to us and how much we will miss her. Her family would like to thank Kaweah Delta Hospice, Anca Petrascu, M.D., and all of the hospice staff and nurses who helped our mother’s last two years be the best they could be. We would also like to thank TLC Assisted Living for their Tender Loving Care of our mother the last two months of her life. A Rosary will be prayed Monday, January 23, 2017 at 6:00 pm with viewing from 4:00-7:00 pm at Salser and Dillard Funeral Chapel. A Mass of Christian burial will be held on Tuesday, January 24, 2017 at 9:30 am at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, followed by burial at Visalia Public Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Kaweah Delta Hospice or a charity of your choice. For further details or to make a memorial tribute please go to www.salseranddillard.com

Jessie Tafoya

December 6, 1922 - January 12, 2017