It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Francisca Ibarra Sanabria on July 3, 2025. She was a beloved mother, sister, grandmother and friend.

Born in Huetamo, Michoacan, Mexico, Francisca spent her adult youth working as a school teacher.

In the late 1950s, she moved to Santa Barbara, where she met her husband Manuel Espinoza. Together, Francisca and Manuel had three daughters before he preceded her in 1971.

Francisca was an incredibly generous woman and a hard worker who worked many different types of jobs to achieve her dream of creating financial security for her family. She was a savvy businesswoman and did her best to ensure her children had bright futures ahead of them.

Francisca took great joy in being a grandmother. While she was a strict parent, she was a fun and playful grandma.

She enjoyed neighborhood walks, family trips to Mexico, dancing with her son at parties, long phone calls with her daughters, slot machines, and mariachi.

Francisca lived her life to the fullest, making it impossible to fit into a few paragraphs. Anyone who had the privilege of knowing her can attest to that.

Francisca leaves behind three daughters and a son Alma Regalado (Ruben), Linda Scott (Jeff), Lucie Espinoza (Benjamin Mendoza), and Jesse Sanabria; 10 grandchildren: Manuel Theis, Marisa Dominguez (Jesse), Nicole Chancer (Jake), Lucie Mendoza, Tiffany Theis, Carmelita Mendoza (Cesar Hernandez), Linda Mendoza, Christopher Scott, Kenneth Scott, Benjamin Mendoza; five great-grandchildren Vanessa Theis, Evan Theis, Pastel Dominguez, Phoebe Chancer, and Lorenzo Jiménez; and two sisters Gloria Gonzalez and Adelita León.

Rosary will be held 6:30 p.m. Monday, July 14 at Our Lady of Guadalupe, 227 N. Nopal St., Santa Barbara. Mass will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday, July 15, also at Our Lady of Guadalupe. Interment will follow the funeral mass at Santa Barbara Cemetery.

Funeral arrangements entrusted to Pueblo Del  Rey Funeral Services.