With heavy hearts, we announce the passing of our dear mother, Anita “Annie” Diaz, a descendant of beloved Russell City. On July 17th, 2024, at the age of 92, while in her Fremont home of 61 years, surrounded by those who held her in adoration, she was gently called home to walk into the arms of Our Lord. The home she and her late husband, Nick Diaz sowed seeds of love and hope in, which served as a fortress for her 6 children, 12 grandchildren, 23 great-grandchildren and 5 great-great grandchildren, is the exact place she wanted to be when she took her final breath.
Anita will be joining those who preceded her in death: the love of her life, Nick Diaz, 1 sister, 4 brothers, 2 sons-in-law, several nieces and nephews, 1 grandson, her mother, and the man she most revered, her father, Selerino Garcia.
To those of us who championed her, she was mom, gramma, or gramma-gram; a fierce little lady who was notoriously feisty. Her spirit was ornery, once beyond it, you were met with immense amounts of love, smiles, shoulder-shrugging laughter, compassion and grace. Always there when we needed her most, she bestowed wisdom, encouragement, generosity and strength. An avid fan of “Cowboy” and action movies, basketball and football games, her favorite teams were the Golden State Warriors and the Raiders. Anita’s love for flowers was captured in the design of her garden; she was often checking in on the maintenance of her crepe myrtle trees, her hydrangea “old faithful”, roses, gardenias and various other flora. Her diverse interests allowed her to develop relationships with family members that spanned generations. She created magic in the kitchen with her excellent cooking skills, always the “hostess with the mostest”, the bounty she provided to her family extended to the community through her work in feeding the unhoused, and serving on the hospitality committee of her church, “Santa Paula”. A proud catholic, she was involved in parish activities and sang in the Hawaiian Choir. Annie encouraged faith by walking her children and grandchildren to Sunday mass. A fan of the underdog, (go Raiders!), she was no stranger to helping others, including extended family and friends. Annie and Nick raised their children with their shared core values of a strong work ethic, assisting those in need, and always providing love and support to family.
Once the magic she created in the kitchen ceased, the spoon was laid to rest, and the “bean pot” turned off; it was her feistiness and the bond between her family that allowed the magic to continue in her family home. We are heartbroken to lose her but joyful that she is with Our Lord, her husband and her loved ones.
