Anna Marie Mendez

Our beloved mother Anna Marie Mendez passed away peacefully on August 31, 2023, at the age of 101. Anna was born on June 25, 1922, in Long Beach, California and lived a long and happy life in the South Bay area. Her commonsense attitude along with her sense of humor were an essential part of who she was. We will miss hearing her voice and those special qualities only belonging to her. She loved being outdoors, doing yard work, and especially loved spending time with her family and friends. She always offered support to her children and grandchildren in their endeavors. She took pride in our achievements and accomplishments small and large. Whether it was a child's first steps, graduating from college, or getting a new job, she was our biggest cheerleader. Guiding us, supporting us, loving us. Grandma Anna was the pillar of our family and will be greatly missed. A wonderful mother, super grandmother and friend to all.

Anna was predeceased by her husband Isaias (Ruco) Mendez, and by her daughters, Rosalie and Anna Marie. She is survived by her sons George Mendez and wife Cynthia, Ronnie Mendez, Gary Mendez and wife Jennifer, and daughter Becky Gurrola, and 12 grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren, and 1 great-great-grandchild.

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Anna Marie Mendez was a descendant of the pioneering Machado family of Los Angeles. Two hundred and forty two years ago, Anna’s third great grandparents Jose Manuel Machado, age 25, and Maria del Carmen Valenzuela, age 17, left Real de Los Alamos, Sonora in what was then Nuevo España, now México. Jose Manuel Machado, accompanied by his wife, was one of the soldiers who traveled into Alta California to found El Pueblo de Los Angeles. They arrived at Mission San Gabriel on July 14, 1781 and went on to assist in the founding of El Pueblo on September 4, 1781. With other soldiers, Jose Manuel Machado and his wife then moved northward to found Presidio Santa Barbara in 1782. As the years passed, the Machado family grew to include nine children, eight of whom survived to adulthood. Jose Manuel Machado and Maria del Carmen Valenzuela were the founders of their illustrious family in Alta California.

In 1819, two of their sons—Ygnacio and Agustin Machado—applied to the Spanish government for grazing land on what was to become Rancho La Ballona. In 1822, 13,920 acres of that land was granted to the Machado brothers and to their partners Felipe Talamantes and his son Tomás. In 1834, Ygnacio Machado built the Centinela Adobe which is preserved to this day. The Machado family held the Rancho and other lands under three governments—Spain, Mexico and the United States.

Ygnacio Machado and his wife Maria Estefan’s Palomares were Anna’s great great grandparents. Their son Francisco Machado and his wife Maria Encarnación Higuera were Anna’s great grandparents. Their son Santiago Machado and his wife Felicitas Ruíz were Anna’s grandparents. Anna’s parents were James Machado and Catalina Terán.

As the Machado family arrived in California for the founding of El Pueblo de Los Angeles in 1781, and their descendants contributed to the growth of the city ever since, Anna was very proud of that remarkable heritage.