Elisa was born in Santa Barbara, California. In 1931, her father moved their family to Mexico. In 1951, she met and married her husband, Luis Arevalo in Leon, Mexico. Luis and Elisa were married for 44 years until Luis’ death in 1996. They immigrated to San Jose in 1955, with their first three children (Elisa, Maria and Luis) and soon added three more to their family (Luis Ernesto, Patricia and Eduardo).Elisa worked at the Rosicrucian Order in San Jose, as a bilingual secretary for 20 years. She translated for visiting dignitaries from all over the world. Elisa was an excellent seamstress making clothes and Halloween costumes for her children and grandchildren. Elisa enjoyed cross stitching. She enjoyed sharing her cross stitch hobby with friends at Bethel Assisted Living facility in Modesto where she lived the last six years. Elisa and her husband Luis were active members of St. John Vianney Parish for over 50 years. Elisa translated the church literature for the Spanish Mass. She also was a lector and a member of the Spanish Mass Coro.Elisa also known as Momsie, is survived by her six children, seven grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. She will also be missed by her two younger sisters, Beatrice Suarez and Raquel Eulate, whom she loved very much. She was preceded in death by her twin brother, Lupe Padilla in 1998.Momsie loved spending time with her family and one of her favorite activities was making tamales on Christmas Eve.The Visitation will be held from 3 to 5 pm at Chapel of Flowers Funeral Home.A Funeral Mass will be held at 9:30 am on Monday, January 30, 2023 at St. John Vianney Parish, 4600 Hyland Ave, San Jose, CA. Following the Mass, a burial service will be held at Oak Hill Memorial Park at 11am.
Published by Mercury News on Jan. 22, 2023.
