In June 2023, Ramona M. Guzman was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. She fought hard for nine months with grace, courage, and unwavering faith. On the night of Wednesday, February 28, with her children and husband by her side, Ramona was called to Heaven.

Ramona (Mona) and her husband of 46 years, Ray Guzman moved to Escalon in 1989. They raised three beautiful children, all of whom graduated from Escalon High. Mona served the community for over 25 years as an instructional aide and bilingual translator at Van Allen Elementary. She enjoyed cooking, traveling with family, gardening, and spending time with her five grandchildren, Mahaila Guzman, Maya Guzman, Anthony Ray Najera-Phipps Jr., Selena Najera, and Roman Najera.

Mona was born September 24, 1958, in San Pedro Tesistan, Jalisco, Mexico. She was the oldest of five children born to Albino Mena and Margarita Macias. She is survived by her husband Ray Guzman, children Joseph Ray Guzman, Gabriel Andrew Guzman, daughter-in-law Michelle Guzman, Alyssa Raquel (Guzman) Najera and son-in-law Anthony Ray Najera.

The family thanks friends and families for the ongoing love and support throughout the last nine months. Special thank you to Mona’s Van Allen family for giving her decades of friendship, kindness, and community.

There will be a viewing at Deegan Funeral Chapel on Thursday, March 7, 2024 at 4 p.m. and Rosary at 6 p.m. A funeral mass is scheduled for Friday, March 8, at 10 a.m. at St. Frances of Rome Catholic Church in Riverbank, followed by a burial ceremony at Burwood Cemetery on River Road in Escalon.

The Oakdale (Calif.) Leader

The Riverbank (Calif.) News

March 6, 2024