Gloria Elisa Zamarripa Backlund's Obituary
Gloria E. Zamarripa (de Backlund)
September 1, 1932 – November 9, 2018
Gloria Elisa Zamarripa passed away at 11:45am on Friday, November 9, 2018, after years of battling dementia and weeks of battling the recurrence of a painful infection. Her last moments were peaceful, surrounded by the love of her children.
This beautiful, loving and much-loved woman was born and raised in Mexico City. She married an American and moved to the USA but told everyone who would listen that she was 150% Mexican. She always knew that someday she would return home.
She was a strong, courageous, funny, smart, sophisticated, crazy woman. She loved the pursuit of knowledge, art and music. She lived her life her way with dignity and humor. She hated bad manners and ignorance. She loved with all her heart.
She was an adventurer. At least on two occasions she packed up her three small children in her Volkswagen bug and drove from California to Mexico City, stopping to visit family along the way. These trips could take six to seven days, one way, and were filled with singing, playing, learning and navigating with paper maps that sometimes took us on unexpected side trips that left us with unforgettable memories.
She taught her children to be strong, brave, considerate, compassionate. She taught us to thirst for knowledge, to stay open to life’s curves, to face challenges head on, and to find the joy in everyday situations. One touch of her incredibly soft hand seemed to ease the pain of a scraped knee, cool a fever, or begin the mending of a broken heart. One raise of her eyebrow could bring even the most unruly behavior to an immediate stop.
Gloria Elisa Zamarripa leaves behind her three loving children, Diana Maria, Cynthia Gloria, and Robert John; a beloved sister, Ana Elisa; and countless family and friends, all who are waiting to celebrate her life and mourn her loss when she finally arrives home.
Please share online condolences with the family at www.loudounfuneralchapel.com
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