Maria Dolores Reynoso

Our beloved Mama Lola of Woodlake, California, passed away peacefully on March 24, 2026, at the age of 91. She was born on November 20, 1934, in El Remolino, Zacatecas, to Mauro Luna Rodarte and Rosa Haro Estrada. She was the oldest of three children. Lola migrated with her parents from Zacatecas to Baja California at the age of 14. They joined her grandparents and other family members who had acquired an "ejido" farm parcel in the unincorporated farmlands south of Mexicali. It is here in "Ejido Cucapah Indigena" that she met the love of her life, Hijinio Reynoso Sr. They were married on December 29, 1952, after which they began their life together in an adobe house built by Hijinio. While her husband participated in the Bracero Program, created to address the labor shortage in the United States during World War II, Lola raised their three small children in Mexico. In 1960, with a deep faith and a devotion that knew no bounds, Lola supported her husband in pursuing the process of obtaining legal immigration status for their family of five. She never looked back, nor regretted having followed him to a new country where she could not speak the language or understand the customs. Yet, she bravely stood at his side as they began building a life from the ground up. They first settled in Weed, California, before making their way to the Central Valley and ultimately to Woodlake in 1962, a place they would now call home. Lola lived her last 56 years in the same home built by her husband and three oldest sons. She was a woman of quiet, immense strength. She worked tirelessly in the fields as a farm laborer alongside Hijinio, only to come home and pour that same energy into her most important work: raising their seven children and keeping a home filled with warmth for all who entered it. Her love extended far beyond her own children. She also helped raise four of her grandchildren and opened her home to others who needed care along the way. Her house was always full of children, laughter, and life. Even as her children and grandchildren grew, their friends (as well as her own friends) continued to gather there, drawn by her warm presence. Despite the language barriers she carried throughout her life, Lola welcomed everyone with a smile that needed no translation, making each person feel seen, cared for, and at home. Her kitchen was a sanctuary, and if you were lucky enough to taste her mole or salsa, you knew you were tasting the best in the world. When she wasn't looking after her family or catching up with friends, you could always find her happily making something in the kitchen or working on one of her favorite word searches. Lola is survived by her children: Aaron Reynoso (Cilisia), Esther Reynoso, Rosie Cofre (Carlos), Samuel Reynoso (Mitra), and Hijinio Reynoso Jr. (Jocelyn); 13 grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. She is predeceased by her father Mauro Luna, mother Rosa Haro, brothers Enrique Luna & Leonardo Luna, husband Hijinio Reynoso Sr., and sons Miguel Reynoso & Francisco Reynoso. She was so much more than a wife, mother, and grandmother; she was our center. While her absence leaves a void we can't describe, we find peace in the lessons of love, dignity, and family she lived every single day. As the last surviving member of her generation, her passing marks the end of an era, but her incredible spirit remains the foundation of everything we are. In lieu of flowers, we ask that you please consider donating in support of an educational scholarship in her and Hijinio's honor. Donations may be made at www.woodlakefoundation.org/scholarships (click on "Hijinio Reynoso Sr. Memorial Scholarship") or by sending a check with "Hijinio Reynoso Sr. Memorial Scholarship" in the memo section to: Woodlake High School Foundation Attn: Hijinio Reynoso Sr. Memorial Scholarship PO Box 475 Woodlake, CA 93286 Visitation will be held 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM Thursday, April 9th, 2026 at Salser & Dillard Funeral Chapel, 127 E. Caldwell Ave., Visalia. Rosary will follow at 6:00 PM. Homily of Prayers services will be held at the same location at 9:00 AM Friday, April 10th, 2026.Graveside services will be held 10:30 AM Friday, April 10th, 2026 at Woodlake Public Cemetery, 165 N Cypress St, Woodlake. Services have been entrusted to Salser & Dillard Funeral Chapel. Memorial Tributes and condolences may be offered by logging onto www.salseranddillard.com.

Maria Dolores Reynoso

November 20, 1934 - March 24, 2026