Herminia was born at a hacienda in Mexico, and raised in Pueblo Nuevo. She came to the United States in 1923 when she was fifteen years old. She traveled from El Paso, Texas to California on the train with a brother and three sisters. They came to live at Limoneira Ranch near Santa Paula and there she met her future husband, Roman.Her family proudly displays wedding photographs from 1925, with Herminia, the beautiful bride in a gorgeous wedding gown, her handsome husband by her side. They had a big wedding at St. Sebastian Church in Santa Paula, and soon moved to their little ranch east of Santa Paula, where they built their home and raised their family.In addition to raising her family, she worked for many years at other jobs. During the World War II era she worked at McKevett Packing House, and later worked in the Santa Clara Packing House in Oxnard. “I worked very hard,” she said. “I worked hard all of my life.” Herminia says she enjoyed working and her daughters say that she cooked for everybody. Her cooking is legendary with her family. Herminia’s daughters remember her delivering homemade, warm burritos and sandwiches to them for lunch at Barbara Webster School. Ventura County Fairgoers remember her food booth at the Fair in the 1960s and early 1970s. Her booth was a favorite with homemade tortillas and burritos.Herminia Ramirez is a Santa Paula treasure. Happy Birthday!
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Herminia (Minnie) Ramirez of Santa Paula celebrated a very important distinction last week. She celebrated her 100th birthday with over 200 of her closest friends and family members. (Photo by Susan Branham) |
100 year-old Herminia Ramirez is a Santa Paula treasure. Happy Birthday
May 02, 2008
Santa Paula News
By Susan Branham
Santa Paula TimesHerminia (Minnie) Ramirez of Santa Paula celebrated a very important distinction last week. She celebrated her 100th birthday with over 200 of her closest friends and family members. “It was a big party,” Herminia said. “Everybody was there, even my doctor.”She celebrated April 19 at the Sacred Heart Church Hall with sisters, children and grandchildren. Friends and relatives came from other states and cities, including Colorado, Arizona, Nevada, and Washington to help celebrate the special day.They celebrated again on Friday, April 25th, her actual birthday, with a mass and brunch. Herminia’s faith in God is a very important factor in her life. When asked the secret of her longevity she replies, “It is the will of God.”Herminia lives in an attractive home in Santa Paula with her devoted daughter, Juanita Laubacher. “My sisters help us,” Juanita said. Herminia was dressed in a beautiful outfit, complete with a birthday corsage for her newspaper interview. “Not a gray hair,” she quipped. Her sense of humor and warm smile, as well as affection for her family were apparent. She and Juanita were joined by daughters Eleanor Romero, Theresa Tovias and Christina Killgore. In addition to her ten children, Herminia has been blessed with 34 grandchildren, 56 great-grandchildren and 23 great-great grandchildren.
