Obituary of Refugia Rios Aguirre

Refugia Rios barreled into this world on November 28, 1930 as the third baby to Santiago and Angela Rios. She enjoyed a childhood growing up playing in the tailings of San Pedro with her 13 siblings, getting into rock fights with her brothers, and baking fresh tortillas daily with her mom and sisters. She had a great admiration for her older brother Manuel.

After a short career at Valley National Bank, she married a handsome army soldier and became a wife to Augustine Aguirre after many months of flirting by pinching her cheeks for a rosy glow as taught to her by her older sister Maria. Later in life she acquired the the title of “mama” after the birth of her four children, Gilberto, Viola, Francisco and George. She quickly established herself as a matriarchal force to be reckoned with despite the boys laughing and out running her when she tried to swipe them on their jeans with a chancla.

On October 25th ,1979, she upgraded to the title of Granny Fanny with the birth of her first grandchild Bernadette. She was blessed to become a grandmother to 7 other grandchildren Georgina, Andres, Sophia, Alejandro, Corina, Jorgito, and Marisa as well as 7 great grandchildren.

According to her brother Jimmy, she made the best homemade beans and sun tea in the world. Later in life, her sister Lita became her best friend.

On September 4th, Ruth left this world to join her parents and husband in heaven. You can be assured that she met Jesus with her hair perfectly dyed and coiffed, with a lilac dress and matching earrings on, perfectly painted nails, and doused in Bath & Body perfume. She will forever be remembered as a force to be reckoned with, as well as for her love of ice cream, sweets, Vicente Fernandez music, going to Kearney dances on New Years, her embroidered blankets and dolls, her love for the Virgen Mary, her talent for making Christmas magical, her feisty personality, and strong opinions.

In her passing, Granny Fanny leaves behind a legacy of love, strength, and resilience. She was, and forever will be, a beloved and unforgettable force in our lives.