Rosary: Thursday, March 14, 2013, 7 pm, Mission San Juan Bautista. Funeral Mass: Friday, March 15, 2013, 10:00 A.M., Mission San Juan Bautista. Burial: Immediately following the mass, San Juan Cemetery. Condolences may be sent to www.grunnagle.com
Frances Mesa Alejandro, age 94, succumbed to pneumonia on Wednesday March 6, 2013 at Hazel Hawkins Hospital in Hollister, California, with her nephew Jess Murguia by her side.
Frances was born in Winslow, Arizona to Concepcion and Margarito Mesa on March 9, 1918. She migrated to California with her family, finally settling on the central coast in San Juan Bautista in the 1930s. Frances and her younger sister Juanita were cannery workers in nearby Hollister, California for over 40 years and made many good friends among their co-workers.
Frances was known to be a woman of strong faith and a devoted parishioner of the Old Mission San Juan Bautista. She was an avid supporter of the Fiesta Rodeo, the precursor to the current-day Mission Fiesta. She was also a long-time member of the Spanish Women’s Prayer Group and enjoyed singing in the Mission Choir. Frances regularly attended daily mass, prayer group, and 10am mass on Sunday.
This past year Frances was homebound and missed seeing her friends and fellow parishioners. Her good friend Sister Maria del Rey would bring Frances the Holy Eucharist, then stay to visit, pray, and sing hymns. It made her day. Frances’ nephew Jess Murguia and great niece Jennifer were her special angels, always stopping by to make sure Frances had everything she needed and managing her care. They brought infinite joy to her final years.
Frances is survived by her sister Juanita Mesa, sister-in-law Susan Mesa, step-children Amelia “Emily” Bautista and Angel Alejandro. Frances also leaves behind her nephew Jess Murguia and wife Sallie, nephew David Mesa and wife Marylu, niece Laura Lopez and husband Bobby, niece Diane Mesa, nephew Paul Mesa, five grandchildren, one great-granddaughter, and many beloved family and friends. Frances was pre-deceased by her former husband Cosme Alejandro, her sister Paula Mesa, her brother Daniel Mesa, and six other siblings who did not survive to adulthood.
