Cristina Plascencia Hernandez

On June 16, 2023, our beautiful mother Cristina and beloved Yama went peacefully to be with our Lord at the age of 96.

Cristina was born on December 25, 1926, to Demetrio and Victoriana Plascencia; in San Pedro Lagunillas Nayarit, Mex. and was one of five children. As a child, Cristina quickly learned the meaning of hard work as she helped her father make clay bricksand worked in the tobacco fields of Mexico. While continuing to live and work in Mexico, Cristina eventually met the love of her life, her husband of 75 years Demetrio Hernandez. Together they started a family and began their journey moving from Nayarit to Tecate and then settled in Watsonville in 1964 where they lived the rest of their lives.

Throughout their journey Cristina was not shy when it came to hard work, Cristina now a mother of ten worked for several local farmers in the Watsonville area including T.O. Tomasello and Roy Kaita, although tired she still made it a priority to tend to her family and cook them a hot meal, as she loved to cook.

Aside from spending time with her husband and family, Cristina had many hobbies and pastimes that few knew about. Cristina enjoyed gardening, especially tending to her rose garden. She enjoyed sewing and even hand sewed a dress for her daughter Alma to wear in a beauty pageant as a child. She also embroidered sharing that she used to take strands of her hair using it to embroider her husband’s initials onto his handkerchiefs. And of course, cooking she loved to cook for her family and everyone that entered her home; Cristina never let anyone go hungry or leave without having at least “un taco de frijolitos”…she sure did love to cook. At the age of 95, Cristina was still helping her daughters make hundreds of tamales at Christmas time for the family, making sure, the masa had enough manteca and that the carne had enough chile.

Cristina wasn’t a woman of many words, often just sitting back letting her Viejito do all the talking as she sat and laughed as though it was the first time she had heard the platicas or stories. On the rare occasion when Cristina did open up and share stories from her past, one that always brought a great big smile and joy in her eyes was when she spoke of her yegua blanca…the white horse she had as a child; and how she enjoyed riding her to take her father lunch while he was working.

She also reminisced about how as a child her parents could not afford toys and how her mother would make her dolls out of corn husks and her father toy dishes out of the same clay they used to make bricks with. As a Grandmother Cristina found great joy in seeing her grandkids enjoying their many toys, especially their babydolls; Cristina eventually started her own doll collection through gifts given to her by her children, this newfound hobby sparked an old hobby…sewing. With the same joy that she made her daughters’ dresses she also hand sewed clothes for her dolls, from dresses, to sweaters and even socks; sometimes using her own clothing for the fabric.

Cristina was the best wife, mama and Yama that anyone could have ever asked for; and although she was not a very affectionate woman, everything she did, she did with love. She leaves behind a great legacy of strong women, men, grandchildren, great grandchildren and great-great grandchildren. She will be greatly missed and remembered for her kindness, compassion and good cooking.

Although we are heartbroken, we take comfort that she is now reunited with her beloved husband Demetrio R. Hernandez, her daughter Alma (Kenny) Goodwin, her grandson Arturo (Melody) Plascencia and her siblings, Candelaria, Felix Alejandro, and Eduardo and her grand-doggie Foxxie, all of whom have paved the way and have received her with open arms in heaven.

Cristina is survived by her Children; Ines and Maria Luisa Plascencia, Pedro (Isabel) Hernandez, Maria (Javier) Hernandez, Adam, Jose (Lisa) Hernandez, Eva (Mario) Reyes, Max (Laura) Hernandez, Helene. She is also survived by her sister Enedina Plascencia and her 30 grandchildren, 65 great grandchildren and 17 great great grandchildren.

She will forever be missed and in our hearts.

Visitation services will be held on Wednesday, June 28, 2023, from 5-9pm with a rosary at 7pm at Ave Maria Memorial Chapel. Mass will be celebrated on Thursday, June 29, 2023 at St. Patrick Gymnasium at 10am with burial to follow at Pioneer Cemetery.