Maria Luz Renteria, 87, beloved matriarch of the Renteria family, passed away peacefully on July 10, 2024, lovingly surrounded by family.
She is preceded in death by her husband Alfonso Renteria. She is survived by her six children Claudia Renteria, Martin Renteria (Lorena), Maria Stiles (Forrest), Silvia Unzueta (Miguel), Lucy Renteria, and Poncho Renteria; as well as 16 grandchildren and four great grandchildren.
Luz was born on April 8, 1937 in Guadalajara, Mexico. She met her husband Alfonso while they worked together at a pharmacy. The two were married in 1963 and began a family with the births of Claudia and Martin.
Her husband migrated to the United States one year before moving the family to settle in Buellton in 1967. Luz’s family grew immediately with the births of twin girls Maria and Silvia, followed by a fourth girl Lucy. The family then moved to Santa Barbara, the birthplace of her youngest child Poncho.
She always knew her most important God-given role was to nurture and raise her children in having the foundation of a Catholic faith.
To help provide for the growing family Luz began working at La Tapatia Bakery, then moved to La Bella Rosa Bakery, where she worked for many years.
She was loved by many in the community, who referred to her as “Doña Luz,” “Mama Luz,” or just “Mom” for her warm smile and hospitality. Her house was always open to any family member or friend that needed her warmth, wisdom and, of course, a delicious home-cooked meal.
Life gave Luz its challenges as well. Her husband Alfonso passed away unexpectedly 21 years ago, and Luz was the rock of strength when her 28-year-old granddaughter Kaelynn passed away after contracting leukemia in 2022.
That same faith that she held to endure tragic hardships helped her children face the storms as well.
Among her pastimes were dancing, cooking, baking, collecting dolls, listening to the music of Juan Gabriel, shopping at Macy’s, gardening and knitting.
Her children will forever remember her love of dance, and how she would gather them all together in spontaneous dance, particularly to the song “Sugar Sugar” by the Archies.
Her grandchildren will miss the joy she showed at simply having them around on weekends and holidays and her famous “sopitas” (soups).
In her final years of life with her mobility waning, Luz took to knitting blankets. Researching the various favorite colors for everyone in her family, she knitted more than 40 blankets so her loved ones would have a remembrance of her and feel the warmth of her heart always.
Luz was a precious gift whose legacy of love will live on through her family.
“Honor her for all that her hands have done, and let her works bring her praise” — Proverbs 31:31
A rosary will be held at 7 p.m. Tuesday, July 23 at Saint Raphael Catholic Church, 5444 Hollister Ave., Santa Barbara.
A funeral mass will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday, July 24, also at Saint Raphael Catholic Church, followed by internment at Calvary Cemetery.
Funeral arrangements entrusted to Pueblo Del Rey Funeral Services.