Our Mother and family matriarch Elena “Helen” Christina Bañuelos passed away on Dec. 13, 2023, in her beloved Santa Barbara with her loved ones by her side.
Helen, born Elena Christina Castro, came into this world on May 17, 1931, in Bakersfield, California, daughter of Cirila and Manual Castro.
While growing up with her four siblings, she regularly helped at their neighborhood family store. She attended grammar and high school in Bakersfield.
Helen met the love of her life, our dad Richard Bañuelos in Santa Barbara at a Community Recreation Center dance on East Carrillo Street. They later married on Feb. 14, 1953.
She became a loving mother to six children: Suzanne, Richard Jr., Michelle, Michael, Marissa and Peter.
Helen worked tirelessly for her family, giving each of her six children love, great patience, a calming presence, lots of compassion, encouraging words, gentle hugs, positive advice, and sweet giggling smiles.
In the 1970s, Helen was the original hippie Mom. She wore Levis and sandals like a uniform in the summer. She sported a cute pixie-cut and little to no make-up, she was just beautiful.
She composted before composting was a thing.
Helen was an excellent seamstress, sewing many beautiful Fiesta dresses for her daughters over the years.
She was especially crafty, for example, teaching her children to make Christmas decorations that were uniquely organic in nature by using walnut shells, orange slices, leaves and pine cones. We still have those ornaments to this day.
In addition, she was an excellent cook; she could skillfully turn out a healthy delicious meal for her family in no time. Her absolute favorite dessert was made during Lent, Capirotada (Mexican bread pudding.) Yum! And don’t get us started on her love for Christmas tamales.
Her family’s memories of Helen are sweet and endearing, “Mom was a quiet hero. Never searched for the limelight. In fact, she avoided it.”
She happily drove her daughters to ballet/Spanish dance classes, team sport activities, Girls Club, and sons to the Boys Club. Always striving to expose her children to interesting and educational experiences.
Helen had a strong, humble and unshakable Catholic faith. She loved supporting her Catholic church Our Lady Of Sorrows. All of her children attended Notre Dame Elementary School because she wanted us to truly learn the Catholic faith.
For many decades, she participated and supported the Sacred Heart of Jesus and Legion of Mary Societies. In later years, she especially enjoyed spending time with her good friends at noon mass.
She also volunteered as an OASIS volunteer serving seniors with transportation, grocery shopping needs and companionship.
Gardening was her passion. She appreciated the beauty in all plants, and the scientific names just slipped off her tongue with ease. She was a member of the Santa Barbara Four Seasons Garden Club for many years.
Her manicured backyard was filled with beautiful flowering plants and numerous fruit trees she planted such as fig, pomegranate, avocado, grapefruit, persimmon and orange. She especially loved fresh squeezed orange juice from her tree in the morning.
Helen was a big sports fan and loved cheering on the Dodgers, Lakers, Warriors, Los Angeles Sparks, Notre Dame teams, and Kansas City Chiefs’ Patrick Mahomes. She really enjoyed watching the games with her granddaughter Adrianna.
Helen has many beloved grandchildren: Simone, Cirila, Helena, Adam, Adrianna, Lee, Carolina, Michelle, Charlie, Matthew, and Anthony. She was also blessed with great grandchildren: Cirila, Soren, Mia, Henry, Eli, Esme, and Elsie.
Helen was preceded in death by her husband Richard and her son Richard, Jr. She leaves behind her children Suzanne (Allen) Woods, Michelle (Albert) Gonzalez, Michael Bañuelos, Marissa (Charles) Tweedy, and Peter (Inez) Bañuelos.
Our Mother, Grandmother, Great grandmother, Sister, Aunt, Mother-in-Law and dear Friend will be missed and always remembered by the many people she touched. We know she is in heaven surrounded in love, smiling and dancing with our Dad.
Lastly, mom would always say, “Be careful,” whenever we would leave the house. She always cared about our safety and continued till her last days.
Her funeral services will be held at Our Lady of Sorrows Church in Santa Barbara on Thursday, Jan. 4 with a full Rosary at 7 p.m.; and Friday, Jan. 5 Mass will take place at 10 a.m.
If you attend, we kindly request you wear vivid colors in homage of her beautiful garden. Helen never preferred the color black. Let’s celebrate her life in color.
The family would like to sincerely thank VNA Hospice and Serenity House staff for lovely caring for our mother in her last days.
Arrangements entrusted to Pueblo del Rey Funeral Services.