Maria Luz Espinoza

Maria Luz Espinoza (Maru) was born on April 30, 1955 to Delia Martinez and Juan Rios in the city of El Paso, Texas. She was the oldest of 4 siblings: Leticia, Reyes and Lidia. She was raised in the city of Juarez in Chihuahua Mexico. Around the age of 15, her mother migrated from Juarez to Southern California. Maria attended and graduated from Nightingale Middle School in Lincoln Heights, and Garfield High School in East Los Angeles, California. After high school, Maria attended East Los Angeles College (ELAC), and Alhambra Beauty School. After graduating beauty school, she became the family's hairdresser and she cut everyone's hair. She perfected the “Perm” hairstyle which was very popular in the 80’s and 90s. Maria worked at the Los Angeles County Family Planning clinic for many years in the city of ELA. She then transferred to the Department of Public Social Services (DPSS) where she became an Eligibility Worker and retired after 30 years of service. During her employment for the Los Angeles County she was a devoted worker and enjoyed helping her clients. On Cinco De Mayo in 1974, she gave birth to her first son Danny. Danny was everything to her and took him everywhere. One of her favorite things to-do, was to wake him up at five in the morning to take him and his best friend Ruben to Denny’s. Maria married John Espinoza in August of 1984, they were married for 39 beautiful years. They loved going to family gatherings and dancing together. A year later after being married, Maria gave birth to her daughter Christine. Maria was so happy with her little girl, but it wasn't easy. Maria was forced to live in the hospital with Christine due to having asthma. A year later, her second son Fabian was born on the 4th of July in 1986. Fabian was Maria’s baby and she spoiled him. Maria loved her children deeply and sometimes she loved too hard, but no matter what her kids did, Maria never stopped loving them. She was their rock. Maria has a total of seven grandchildren: Olivia, Sophia, Seth, Tess, Delilah, Danielle, and Daenerys. The love that she had for her grandchildren was enormous, they were her reason for living. She loved to cook with them as well as going on missions, this included watching as many movies as they could before falling asleep in the late night. There's nothing that she wouldn't do for them. In Maria's younger days she was an active person, she was always doing things and going places. She would take her children and younger siblings camping. She loved bowling, playing softball, basketball and was even pretty good at ping-pong. She was a huge Dodger fan and loved going to the games at Dodger Stadium. Maria loved laughing and being around family members listening to Juan Gabriel. As Maria got older, she enjoyed spending her retirement at home resting and watching novelas. Maria had a heart of gold, she was a wonderful mother, wife, sister, daughter and grandmother. She was a tough woman and sometimes was tough on those that she loved, but she was tough on them because she loved them. We love and miss you very much mom, you will forever stay in our hearts. May you rest in peace and continue to watch over us from Heaven.

Maria Luz Espinoza

April 30, 1955 - October 21, 2022