Lydia Herrera

Lydia Herrera, loving wife, sister, mother and grandmother, passed away at the age of 82 on April 15, 2020, with her family by her side, in Irvine, CA.  Born in Alice, Texas in 1937 to Manuel and Carmen Hinojosa, Lydia was the 2^nd oldest out of 5 children.  She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree and later a master’s degree in Secondary Education.  She married Ismael Herrera, Jr. on June 7, 1959 in Alice, Texas. 

After moving to California, they raised two daughters, Sandra and Cynthia. Lydia raised her daughters to be confident, smart and humble women.  She loved being a grandmother to her 5 grandchildren. 

Lydia had a passion for teaching.  She taught at Esplanade Elementary School in Orange for 35 years.  Lydia was a Reading resource teacher who always encouraged her students to learn and empowered them to succeed. 

As a person who loved Christmas, Lydia took pride in decorating every part of her house for her favorite holiday and brought the family together to celebrate.  She was a joyful person who lived a happy life.  She loved to help others and had the ability to make people feel happy.  As much as everyone in her life loved Lydia, Lydia made sure everyone knew how much she loved them.  Lydia has left an imprint on the education community and on all her family and friends’ lives.  She will be missed greatly.    

Lydia is survived by Ismael, her loving husband of 60 years.  The loved they shared was unconditional.  To the very end, they continued to love and support each other, and Ismael never left her side and did everything he could to make her feel comfortable and loved.  

Preceded in death by her sister, Ruby, Lydia also is survived by her sister, Carol, her brothers Rene and Richard, daughters Sandra (Gene) and Cynthia (Tom), and her grandchildren, Ryan, Kevin, Joey, Kelly and Matthew.

A private rosary will be held on Sunday, April 26, 2020, followed by private funeral mass on Monday, April 27, 2020.  In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to: Sisters of the Company of Mary Retirement Fund at 16791 Main Street, Tustin CA 92780.  Please write checks to “Sisters of the Company of Mary”, and reference on check “Lydia Herrera – Sisters’ Retirement Fund”. 

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