Griselda Fontes

Sra. Griselda Fontes had a deep and strong faith, was warmly cariñosa, generously kind, youthfully play, peacefully wise, and compassionately smart. She was a free and courageous bird, excited to explore new adventures. She strictly upheld certain Mexican traditions and resiliently adapted and accepted to new, flexible, and inclusive ways of thinking and doing. Mrs. Fontes' love was always dependable, generous, and encouraging. She believed in people, even when they had a hard time believing in themselves. She was hard working and loved to cook her homemade Mexican food, tan sabroso. Somehow, there was always enough for an unexpected, yet welcomed guest. Griselda was born in Mazatlán, in the state of Sinaloa in México. She was always enough for an unexpected, yet welcomed guest. She was deeply proud of her Mexican heritage and of the legacy of her family. Her deeply compassionate and strong mother, Julia Muñoz Casillas, and her father, Jose Casillas, who was a public servant, had eight children. Mrs. Fontes' loving mother died when Griselda was nine years old. As the second oldest daughter, young Griselda selflessly assumed the responsibility to help care for her young siblings. When she was nineteen, her older brother, Jose Casillas, asked if she would like to go to San Francisco, a city she would quickly grow to love, so that she could live with he aunt and grandmother and begin to live her own big dreams. Griselda was excited about the possibilities and accepted the life-changing opportunity. Working as a messenger for her uncle's business and later as a seamstress, she was able to explore the new city before her and enjoy places she would later share with her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren, such as Fisherman Wharf, Pier 39, Golden Gate Park, and the San Francisco Zoo. During an afternoon dance at her local Catholic Church, Griselda Casillas met the love of her life, brilliant and wordly, Manuel Reyes Fontes. Together, they had beautiful children: Manuel, Sandra, Arturo, Rudy, and Lydia, Grandchildren: Rudy, Danny, Mendy, Johnny, Mia, Priscilla, Alexandria, Adriana, and Angela, and great grandchildren: Brandon, Brittany, Zachary, Rachel, Jeremy, Jason, Amanda, Allie, Gianna, Sophia, John Michael, Liam, Joaquin, Cualli, Olivia, Elia, Owen, and Gabriel, great great grandchildren: Ava, Addie, & Rex. From eating her chilaquiles, dancing to Coronelas, sipping on Mexican hot chocolate, crunching on pan tostado with strawberry jam, making three wishes in new churches, churros after Sunday mass, breathing in the fresh ocean air, laughing while playing family La Loteria game nights, afternoon park strolls, and smelling her sweet scent, our mom, our Weita, our love is always with us. She loves everyone of us and showed special attention to each one of us. It is her loving heritage that shines through us. May she rest peacefully in the all encompassing, loving presence of Diosito, embraced by her parents' loving arms, smiling with her siblings, dancing with Manuel, and knowing that we are at peace. 

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