Michelle Stephanie Mendoza Vargas of Santa Barbara, died on Jan. 8, 2020, at Serenity House after a lengthy battle with cancer.
Michelle was born on Oct. 31, 1995, in La Piedad, Michoacán, Mexico. Her family came to Santa Barbara when she was 5 years old. Michelle attended local schools including Franklin Elementary School, Santa Barbara Junior High and Santa Barbara High School.
At Santa Barbara City College, she earned certification and licensing through the CNA and RNA programs. Michelle first worked at Tri-County Produce in Santa Barbara and then moved to be a certified nursing assistant at Vista del Monte Retirement home in Santa Barbara.
Throughout her life, Michelle was motivated by helping people, and even as she battled cancer, she was still volunteering at Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital to fulfill her mission of assisting others.
Michelle was a noble, kind and warm soul who at an early age would always put everyone’s needs before her own. She would literally take the shirt off her back and food off her plate to give to others. And she would do this always with a huge smile.
Michelle lost her grandmother to cancer when she was a teenager. From that very moment, she decided she would become an oncology doctor and help people afflicted by this disease. Unfortunately, at the very young age of 24, God opened the doors to Heaven and took her beautiful soul from us here on earth.
She is now in Heaven, dressed in her doctor’s gown and fulfilling her dreams of helping people waiting in line to see her.
At Vista del Monte, Michelle did the most she could to help people living there while always putting a smile on their faces. Even though her dream of becoming a doctor was cut short, Michelle still changed the lives of many people in one way or another. Many of her loved ones left behind can attest to this truth.
On her last week at the hospital, her brothers got sick with the flu and couldn’t be with her so as not to affect her. Though she had a battle of her own, Michelle wanted to leave the hospital to care for her brothers. Her brothers returned after a few days and went to see her through the hospital room window.
The minute Michelle saw her brothers, she disconnected the IV machines and found the strength to walk toward the window. This exemplifies the warm-hearted and caring person who was Michelle. She cared for the concerns of others before her own as her parents, brothers, her fiancé and the rest of the family and loved ones can attest.
The doctors and nurses who helped Michelle throughout her battle with liver cancer were amazed and impressed with the strength she willed to battle this disease. As a very thankful person, Michelle shook the hand of every doctor and nurse who helped her.
Michelle went through a lot in her fight to defeat this disease and we applaud her courage for being such a warrior. Michelle, we miss you and assure you that you will never be forgotten. You will always be in our hearts. Save a spot up in Heaven for all of us until we see each other again. We love you!
Michelle is survived by her parents Eliseo Francisco Mendoza Ramirez and Lidia Vargas de Mendoza; big bro Alex Mendoza and little bro Brian Mendoza; sister-in-law Brianna Ramos Mendoza; grandfather Eliseo Francisco Mendoza Gonzalez; fiancé David Roldan; and all of the Mendoza, Vargas and Roldan families.
Services will be private. Arrangements entrusted to Pueblo del Rey Funeral Services.