Maria Barragán, 58, of Guadalajara, Mexico, passed away on March 9, 2025 at home with family in Santa Maria.
On Dec. 4, 1966, Maria Concepción Barragán was born to Rita Cisneros and Antonio Navarro. She was known to many as Bug, Conchita or Concha.
She grew up in Guadalajara, Mexico, and after losing her mother, she emigrated to the United States at 12 years old.
She moved to Guadalupe, California, with her Aunt and Uncle (Lupe and Armando Narez), where she attended Kermit Mackenzie Jr. High School.
Maria later attended Ernest Righetti High School in Santa Maria, and was able to intern with VTC Enterprises. After graduating, she was hired as an employee of VTC for a few years.
During early adulthood, she was asked to be a bridesmaid in her uncle’s wedding. That is where she met an annoying groomsman Mario Barragán, who became her loving and sarcastic husband.
During her married life, Maria attended Allan Hancock College, where she obtained her CNA and LVN nursing degree, and worked for private care.
While raising her two daughters Erika Barragán Albert and DeAnna (DeeDee) Barragán she would remind them: “If I could get a 4.0 GPA without knowing English, you can too!”
Due to health circumstances, Maria stepped away from nursing and began working at Sojourns Inc., where she helped infants and families with play therapy until 2008 when the company closed.
Maria hunted for work and became office manager for St Joseph’s Supported Living Services. Shortly after, her health was steadily declining until the fateful day on July 1, 2009 when she got the phone call saying “We have lungs for you.”
Mario and Maria raced to UCLA where she received a double lung transplant.
With these blessed extra 15-plus years, she was able to see her daughters graduate from high school and college. She was able to experience her oldest daughter’s wedding and the subsequent birth of her two grandchildren.
Maria went on many travels, thanks to Grandma Carey taking her on her first cruise, and that began her urge to travel with her friends that became family. They all helped her make laughable memories, bring back rocks to decorate her yard, and brought back COVID-19 twice.
The one thing she wants everyone to know is “Live your life to the fullest, no matter what happens, life goes on, so keep on going!”
Maria loved to sing, dance, cheer, and prank her extended family and friends by showing them there is nothing wrong with having fun.
She was preceded in death by many animals and people in life that made a loving impact on her, especially “Ma and Pa” Beatriz and Salvador Barragán.
Maria was a joy to all, and made fabulous relationships with everyone she came across.
She is survived by her loving husband Mario Barragán; daughter Erika Albert; son-in law Brett Albert; daughter DeeDee Barragán; her three crazy dogs; and her favorite people (her grandchildren) Oliver and Willow.
There will be a Rosary and Mass Service that Maria wanted at 10 a.m. Thursday, April 3 at St. Louis De Montfort in Santa Maria.
She asked that people who attend her services wear red and black “dress like a ladybug.” In lieu of flowers Maria requests to bring a toy donation for Toys 4 Tots.
Visit www.dudleyhoffmanmortuary.com to leave a condolence for the family.