Mary Natalie Felix

Mary Natalia Molina was born to Antonio Molina and Celia Cantu on July 9, 1928, in Los Nietos, CA. She was the fourth born of sixteen children. She was especially close to her great-grandmother Petra, who helped raise her.

Mary attended Los Nietos Grade School from 1st-8th grade. Her favorite class was Home Economics which involved field trips to her teacher’s home where she got lessons in baking, sewing, and cooking.

With the permission of her school, she often attended part-time so she could join her family in working by picking walnuts from the trees that lined the streets of Whittier Blvd. Though she disliked the way the walnuts stained her hands, she recalled this task as fun because the family was together.

Growing up during the Great Depression, WWII, and coming from a large family caused reverberations from these experiences that could be felt throughout her lifetime. Some school days were interrupted with air raid drills and some evenings at home sirens would sound, a signal of blackout drills. “It was so scary then”, she would recall. She came from a large family of modest means, and she dutifully took on the role of caregiver to her younger siblings when she was just a child herself. She often reminisced about how she would make a big pot of beans and roll out tortillas to feed the family.

As a young girl, birthdays were celebrated sitting around the big round kitchen table. Her mom would make enchiladas and a homemade cake. Kids from the neighborhood would join in playing made up games, the celebrations would last into the warm Summer evenings.

Summer days were spent swimming with siblings in the ditches by the railroad tracks of Los Nietos, taking long walks-they would carry buckets to gather wild blackberries they would pick along the way; some were washed in the streams and enjoyed in the beautiful Summer sun, the rest would be taken home to have as a treat smashed in a cold glass of milk.

Mary attended Whittier High School for two years before her mother and stepfather moved the family up North, to Cutler.

At about fifteen years old Mary moved back to Los Angeles to live with her Aunt Sophie. Her aunt helped her get her first job at “Best of All Cookies” where she bagged cookies. She enjoyed her job, she said, “I ate a lot of cookies there.” She earned a paycheck and paid rent.

As a teenager she enjoyed going to dances with friends, taking drives to the beach, and watching her older sister, Amelia, practice her dance moves with friends while listening to Big Band Music.

One fateful day she allowed her friend to set her up on a double date at a carnival, where she was introduced to her future husband, Reyes. Mary always made it clear that this was not love at first sight because she really was not into “gueros”, but he was persistent and eventually stole her heart.

While on a date, at the Whittier Theater, Reyes told Mary, “I have something to ask you” she hurried him because the show was about to start. He proposed and she accepted after a little convincing, in typical grandma fashion-always playing hard to get.

On June 25, 1949 Reyes and Mary were married in an intimate ceremony. Soon after they started their family and welcomed their son, Raul, and three daughters Yolanda, Cindy, and Rachel, respectively.

As a young mom, Mary became gravely ill. She was in and out of the hospital, doctors were not able to diagnose her. Though Reyes continued to work he always took their kids to visit and made time to take her to her doctor appointments. Her family was afraid she would not make it, but she prayed to her patron saint, Saint Jude, and in time she believed her prayers were heard and the doctors were able to diagnose her with Addison’s disease and properly treat her. It was a scary time for their young family, but Mary was not ready to leave this earth, she had lots of living left to do with her family.

Mary loved celebrating, especially holidays. She always made sure her children had a new Easter outfit, she would help her children put a Halloween costume together and enjoyed taking them trick or treating, the scent of stuffing filled the air Thanksgiving morning as she prepared their meal, a Christmas tree was always put up and decorated-tamales were effortlessly made, and New Year’s Eve she hosted parties. When she had her apron on, you knew she was ready for a good time.

Family outings were enjoyed whether at the beach, Knotts Berry Farm, Summer trips up North, or drives to TJ where she would make homemade burritos to enjoy along the way.

Mary was a homemaker while raising her young children. She was not a traditional comforter, but she showed her love in many ways. One way she often showed her love was with the warm, simple yet perfectly seasoned meals she took the time to cook with care. Her enchiladas, tamales, perfectly cooked rice, creamy and smooth beans to this day are unrivaled. Like every mom she wanted to see her children excel, high school graduations were especially important. She found ways to challenge her children in different areas, like the time she challenged her youngest to give a speech in exchange for a bike.

The Summer of 1966 Reyes and Mary purchased their first home on Shadyside Avenue. This was a great accomplishment they were always proud of. They were intentional about the location within walking distance of the high school their children would attend. Mary loved her home and her neighborhood. She always knew what was going on and could often be seen peeking through the blinds while giving a quick update on the latest gossip.

As her children grew older, she began taking on different jobs, but the one most people will remember her for is being the head cook at Rubi’s Frosty Freeze. She worked there for well over thirty years and to say she was well known in the community as being the best cook would be accurate, many thought she was the owner. She got to know the customers, the regulars and knew their orders by memory. Rubi’s was never the same after she retired.

In January of 1971 Mary welcomed her first of eight grandchildren. She absolutely loved being around her grandchildren, and they adored her and their time with her just the same. She always greeted you with a “Hi Mija” or “Hi Mijo”, you could hear the affection in her voice, her hugs were soft and welcoming that enveloped you with the scent of White Shoulders powder. The special holiday traditions she held for her children were passed down to her grandchildren, like the grand Easter egg hunts, she loved dying the eggs. She made the best sandwiches that she wrapped in wax paper and left them in the refrigerator, “just in case anyone gets hungry.” The freezer was always stocked with ice cream, although we thought that was just for the grandkids, we learned later grandpa kept it stocked for grandma’s sweet tooth, but she always let us indulge.

She was protective of her grandchildren; she once hid a paddle so it couldn’t be used for spanking. She was generous in inviting her grandchildren for sleepovers, if you were lucky this would be on a Friday night spent watching novelas while she and grandpa translated the unfolding drama. She loved to shop and frequently invited her grandchildren on shopping trips that usually ended at Frantone’s for dinner.

She loved shopping and she loved purses. When asked by her oldest granddaughter to take her on a milestone appointment to get her drivers license, she didn’t think twice. She helped some of her grandchildren get a job at Rubi’s working with her. Grandma and Grandpa enjoyed evenings staring up at the sky counting airplanes and admiring the beautiful stars and moon with their grandchildren.

As a great grandmother she could be heard giving advice on trying to get a job at a burger stand because “it’s good experience.” She attended ball games and showed up ready to cheer. She happily made ice cream shakes and French toast with extra egg to ensure they got enough protein.

When reminded she was a great-great grandmother, she was overjoyed and looked forward to visits, updates, and pictures.

Mary lived by the rules, for example: when you’re old enough, get a job, always look your best, make your bed every morning, keep your hair out of your face, always have a sweater, just in case; but she was not afraid to break rules, like when dining out, if there was a mug she liked, it simply became her “souvenir.” If she liked the flowers at the vacant burger stand, she’d have grandpa drive her there to collect a bundle of flowers to take home and plant in her garden. She loved life, she made it fun, and she lived on her own terms.

She loved gambling at the casinos, spending the day at her sister Amelia’s, listening to music and walking in the backyard with her husband, trips up North, Hershey chocolate bars, tacos, and coffee. She loved sharing her stories from childhood; she was a wonderful storyteller and avid reader. She was beautiful, strong, generous, and sassy. She was our little lady, our precious gem.

In her recent years, age and dementia began to slow her down and keep her from getting out like she used to love to. She had a sense of humor when she noticed she forgot something or said something funny.

On May 12,2020 she lost her husband, Reyes, he was her comforter, her protector, the love of her life, her everything. She knew his loss would be great, but she knew those she entrusted with her care would walk the journey with her, she said, “I’m going to miss him, but I know that God will take care of me and I know my family will take care of me. I want to go on and continue to live.”

Shortly after the passing of Reyes, she was officially diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease. She struggled more and more with short-term memory loss, though her mind didn’t remember her husband was gone, we know that her heart knew.

She told her daughter, “You have a big job taking care of me, but I’ll be good.” And she was good, she was so good. Despite the fear and anxiousness that the disease brings she communicated her trust in those caring for her. She often asked, “Are you happy?” She shared with her grandchildren that all she wanted to know was that they were happy. She never stopped being a mom, she always wanted to make sure everyone had their coffee, was fed and warm.

This time in her life allowed her to be vulnerable, she accepted help willingly and was always gracious. She was extra-sweet and almost lighter. She viewed life through a lens of beauty; the simplest things were, in her words, “beautiful” and “delicious.” The bowl she was eating her avena from was “beautiful”; her simple meal of frijoles de la olla and calabacitas was “delicious” as if seeing and eating these things for the first time.

She was so strong, so much so that no one, not even the doctors were truly aware how numbered our days were with her. She went like she moved about in life, quickly. In the early-morning hours of February 3, 2021, at the age of 92, Mary peacefully drew her last breath while surrounded by loved ones.

Her absence in death looms as large as her presence in life. She was and will always be thee best mother and grandmother.

In our grief, may we remember that she has been reunited with the love of her life, grandpa. They are probably sitting in the rose garden that grandpa had to leave us for to prepare for his quierida’s arrival, drinking coffee.

Mary was preceded in death by her husband, Reyes Felix. She is survived by one brother, three sisters, her four children, Raul, Yolanda, Cindy, and Rachel, eight grandchildren, twenty-four great grandchildren, and five great-great grandchildren.

We love and miss you. We ’ll always leave a night lite on for you.