On Friday, November 3, 2023, Margarita "Moggie" Melendez passed away quietly in the company of her children. In otherwise strong physical health, she suffered from dementia that in recent months took sharp decline.
On January 19, 1942, Margarita, dubbed Moggie by her siblings, was the first of 4 daughters born to her parents, Frank Miranda and Amparo Labastida Miranda. Born and raised in Los Angeles, California, she attended Catholic school which left a lasting impression of faith and duty that would remain with her all her life. She often described her childhood as "simple and full of love" and recounted so many stories of her life in the idyllic days of Los Angeles, with descriptions of beautiful buildings and churches that no longer exist, street cars, walking to dance classes, a loving family, and cross town bus rides to St. Mary's Academy. It was on the bus her sophomore year of high school that she would make a friend of a fellow schoolmate who wanted to introduce Margarita to her cousin, and that young man would ultimately be her great love, Ric "Dicky" Melendez. The two courted through high school and the years thereafter until marrying on October 3, 1964.
The early years of their marriage included Ric's service in the US Air Force and as such they would know moves and the separation imposed by remote duty. They remained ever sweethearts as is evidenced by boxes of letters to one another that began during courtship, increased tenfold during Ric's service in Alaska, and continued all throughout their marriage. Together they had three children, Mimi, --- and --- who were raised in similar Catholic school upbringing in Los Angeles. Always in loving service to her children, Moggie was an active member of St. Jerome's School and parish through all of their school years. She left lasting and loving impression on a generation of her kids' classmates, having served so many volunteer roles among them all. She and Ric knew great love, but also great sadness at the loss of their daughter, Mimi, to leukemia in 1983 when she was just 17 years old. Moggie created too many deep and lasting friendships to count in all the years raising her kids in the school community, and she would reflect all her life on the value, the love and the comfort those friendships delivered during such loss. Moggie would never stop returning love and honor to those bonds and set a standard for her children on how to give and receive friendship.
After her years at home with kids, she went to work for Inglewood Unified School District as a bilingual classroom aide and ultimately as an office manager in an elementary school. These working years she continued to gather more lasting friendships with her colleagues. Also during this time, her family grew as her kids began to marry and she arrived to her most beloved role of Grammy. She would endure more loss when in 1999, shy of their 35th anniversary, Ric would lose a short and devastating battle with cancer. Faith, family, friends, and especially the grandchildren, would lift her from the sadness. With resilience and moxie she would demonstrate that loss can only improve upon one's appreciation of joy and love, and so she carried a family torch forward with joy and love beyond measure. Moggie was a lifelong resident of Southern California, with two brief periods in the Bay Area, until her move to the Carolinas in 2020. In her Assisted Living residence, she continued to make friends and spread infectious cheerfulness right to the end.
Margarita loved books and movies and music. She was patient at puzzles and a proficient seamstress of "free dress" dresses for all the girls she loved, of gowns, costumes and capes. She loved to dance, even after losing her dance partner. She was a sender of greeting cards on every occasion to everyone special to her, or special to someone she loved. As a widow, she marveled at her own willingness and ability to travel and see more of the world. She was quick to accept an invitation, but also introspective with time spent alone. She loved without abandon her parents, her sisters, her in laws and ensuing cousins, her nieces, nephews, friends that became family, and later, the staff, nurses, aides and residents in her senior community. She gave the best of herself to her children and grandkids, always.
Margarita is preceded in death by her husband, Ricardo Melendez; her daughter, Margarita "Mimi" Melendez; her parents, Frank and Amparo Miranda; her sister, Patricia Miranda. She is survived by her daughter, ---- and son in law --- of Waxhaw, NC; her son --- Melendez and daughter in law --- Melendez of Waxhaw, NC; her grandchildren, --- and ---, ---, --- and ---; her sisters --- and ---.
Rosary and visitation to be held 4-6pm Monday, November 6th at Heritage Funeral Home Chapel 16151 Lancaster Highway Charlotte, NC 28277 and Funeral Mass 12pm on Tuesday, November 7th at Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church 7095 Waxhaw Highway Lancaster, Lancaster SC 29720. Moggie will be buried with her husband, and alongside their daughter, at Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery in Culver City, CA at a later date, TBD. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. https://www.stjude.org/donate
On January 19, 1942, Margarita, dubbed Moggie by her siblings, was the first of 4 daughters born to her parents, Frank Miranda and Amparo Labastida Miranda. Born and raised in Los Angeles, California, she attended Catholic school which left a lasting impression of faith and duty that would remain with her all her life. She often described her childhood as "simple and full of love" and recounted so many stories of her life in the idyllic days of Los Angeles, with descriptions of beautiful buildings and churches that no longer exist, street cars, walking to dance classes, a loving family, and cross town bus rides to St. Mary's Academy. It was on the bus her sophomore year of high school that she would make a friend of a fellow schoolmate who wanted to introduce Margarita to her cousin, and that young man would ultimately be her great love, Ric "Dicky" Melendez. The two courted through high school and the years thereafter until marrying on October 3, 1964.
The early years of their marriage included Ric's service in the US Air Force and as such they would know moves and the separation imposed by remote duty. They remained ever sweethearts as is evidenced by boxes of letters to one another that began during courtship, increased tenfold during Ric's service in Alaska, and continued all throughout their marriage. Together they had three children, Mimi, --- and --- who were raised in similar Catholic school upbringing in Los Angeles. Always in loving service to her children, Moggie was an active member of St. Jerome's School and parish through all of their school years. She left lasting and loving impression on a generation of her kids' classmates, having served so many volunteer roles among them all. She and Ric knew great love, but also great sadness at the loss of their daughter, Mimi, to leukemia in 1983 when she was just 17 years old. Moggie created too many deep and lasting friendships to count in all the years raising her kids in the school community, and she would reflect all her life on the value, the love and the comfort those friendships delivered during such loss. Moggie would never stop returning love and honor to those bonds and set a standard for her children on how to give and receive friendship.
After her years at home with kids, she went to work for Inglewood Unified School District as a bilingual classroom aide and ultimately as an office manager in an elementary school. These working years she continued to gather more lasting friendships with her colleagues. Also during this time, her family grew as her kids began to marry and she arrived to her most beloved role of Grammy. She would endure more loss when in 1999, shy of their 35th anniversary, Ric would lose a short and devastating battle with cancer. Faith, family, friends, and especially the grandchildren, would lift her from the sadness. With resilience and moxie she would demonstrate that loss can only improve upon one's appreciation of joy and love, and so she carried a family torch forward with joy and love beyond measure. Moggie was a lifelong resident of Southern California, with two brief periods in the Bay Area, until her move to the Carolinas in 2020. In her Assisted Living residence, she continued to make friends and spread infectious cheerfulness right to the end.
Margarita loved books and movies and music. She was patient at puzzles and a proficient seamstress of "free dress" dresses for all the girls she loved, of gowns, costumes and capes. She loved to dance, even after losing her dance partner. She was a sender of greeting cards on every occasion to everyone special to her, or special to someone she loved. As a widow, she marveled at her own willingness and ability to travel and see more of the world. She was quick to accept an invitation, but also introspective with time spent alone. She loved without abandon her parents, her sisters, her in laws and ensuing cousins, her nieces, nephews, friends that became family, and later, the staff, nurses, aides and residents in her senior community. She gave the best of herself to her children and grandkids, always.
Margarita is preceded in death by her husband, Ricardo Melendez; her daughter, Margarita "Mimi" Melendez; her parents, Frank and Amparo Miranda; her sister, Patricia Miranda. She is survived by her daughter, ---- and son in law --- of Waxhaw, NC; her son --- Melendez and daughter in law --- Melendez of Waxhaw, NC; her grandchildren, --- and ---, ---, --- and ---; her sisters --- and ---.
Rosary and visitation to be held 4-6pm Monday, November 6th at Heritage Funeral Home Chapel 16151 Lancaster Highway Charlotte, NC 28277 and Funeral Mass 12pm on Tuesday, November 7th at Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church 7095 Waxhaw Highway Lancaster, Lancaster SC 29720. Moggie will be buried with her husband, and alongside their daughter, at Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery in Culver City, CA at a later date, TBD. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. https://www.stjude.org/donate
On Friday, November 3, 2023, Margarita "Moggie" Melendez passed away quietly in the company of her children. In otherwise strong physical health, she suffered from dementia that in recent months took sharp decline.
On January 19, 1942, Margarita, dubbed Moggie by her siblings, was the first of 4 daughters born to her parents, Frank Miranda and Amparo Labastida Miranda. Born and raised in Los Angeles, California, she attended Catholic school which left a lasting impression of faith and duty that would remain with her all her life. She often described her childhood as "simple and full of love" and recounted so many stories of her life in the idyllic days of Los Angeles, with descriptions of beautiful buildings and churches that no longer exist, street cars, walking to dance classes, a loving family, and cross town bus rides to St. Mary's Academy. It was on the bus her sophomore year of high school that she would make a friend of a fellow schoolmate who wanted to introduce Margarita to her cousin, and that young man would ultimately be her great love, Ric "Dicky" Melendez. The two courted through high school and the years thereafter until marrying on October 3, 1964.
The early years of their marriage included Ric's service in the US Air Force and as such they would know moves and the separation imposed by remote duty. They remained ever sweethearts as is evidenced by boxes of letters to one another that began during courtship, increased tenfold during Ric's service in Alaska, and continued all throughout their marriage. Together they had three children, Mimi, --- and --- who were raised in similar Catholic school upbringing in Los Angeles. Always in loving service to her children, Moggie was an active member of St. Jerome's School and parish through all of their school years. She left lasting and loving impression on a generation of her kids' classmates, having served so many volunteer roles among them all. She and Ric knew great love, but also great sadness at the loss of their daughter, Mimi, to leukemia in 1983 when she was just 17 years old. Moggie created too many deep and lasting friendships to count in all the years raising her kids in the school community, and she would reflect all her life on the value, the love and the comfort those friendships delivered during such loss. Moggie would never stop returning love and honor to those bonds and set a standard for her children on how to give and receive friendship.
After her years at home with kids, she went to work for Inglewood Unified School District as a bilingual classroom aide and ultimately as an office manager in an elementary school. These working years she continued to gather more lasting friendships with her colleagues. Also during this time, her family grew as her kids began to marry and she arrived to her most beloved role of Grammy. She would endure more loss when in 1999, shy of their 35th anniversary, Ric would lose a short and devastating battle with cancer. Faith, family, friends, and especially the grandchildren, would lift her from the sadness. With resilience and moxie she would demonstrate that loss can only improve upon one's appreciation of joy and love, and so she carried a family torch forward with joy and love beyond measure. Moggie was a lifelong resident of Southern California, with two brief periods in the Bay Area, until her move to the Carolinas in 2020. In her Assisted Living residence, she continued to make friends and spread infectious cheerfulness right to the end.
Margarita loved books and movies and music. She was patient at puzzles and a proficient seamstress of "free dress" dresses for all the girls she loved, of gowns, costumes and capes. She loved to dance, even after losing her dance partner. She was a sender of greeting cards on every occasion to everyone special to her, or special to someone she loved. As a widow, she marveled at her own willingness and ability to travel and see more of the world. She was quick to accept an invitation, but also introspective with time spent alone. She loved without abandon her parents, her sisters, her in laws and ensuing cousins, her nieces, nephews, friends that became family, and later, the staff, nurses, aides and residents in her senior community. She gave the best of herself to her children and grandkids, always.
Margarita is preceded in death by her husband, Ricardo Melendez; her daughter, Margarita "Mimi" Melendez; her parents, Frank and Amparo Miranda; her sister, Patricia Miranda. She is survived by her daughter, ---- and son in law --- of Waxhaw, NC; her son --- Melendez and daughter in law --- Melendez of Waxhaw, NC; her grandchildren, --- and ---, ---, --- and ---; her sisters --- and ---.
Rosary and visitation to be held 4-6pm Monday, November 6th at Heritage Funeral Home Chapel 16151 Lancaster Highway Charlotte, NC 28277 and Funeral Mass 12pm on Tuesday, November 7th at Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church 7095 Waxhaw Highway Lancaster, Lancaster SC 29720. Moggie will be buried with her husband, and alongside their daughter, at Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery in Culver City, CA at a later date, TBD. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. https://www.stjude.org/donate
On January 19, 1942, Margarita, dubbed Moggie by her siblings, was the first of 4 daughters born to her parents, Frank Miranda and Amparo Labastida Miranda. Born and raised in Los Angeles, California, she attended Catholic school which left a lasting impression of faith and duty that would remain with her all her life. She often described her childhood as "simple and full of love" and recounted so many stories of her life in the idyllic days of Los Angeles, with descriptions of beautiful buildings and churches that no longer exist, street cars, walking to dance classes, a loving family, and cross town bus rides to St. Mary's Academy. It was on the bus her sophomore year of high school that she would make a friend of a fellow schoolmate who wanted to introduce Margarita to her cousin, and that young man would ultimately be her great love, Ric "Dicky" Melendez. The two courted through high school and the years thereafter until marrying on October 3, 1964.
The early years of their marriage included Ric's service in the US Air Force and as such they would know moves and the separation imposed by remote duty. They remained ever sweethearts as is evidenced by boxes of letters to one another that began during courtship, increased tenfold during Ric's service in Alaska, and continued all throughout their marriage. Together they had three children, Mimi, --- and --- who were raised in similar Catholic school upbringing in Los Angeles. Always in loving service to her children, Moggie was an active member of St. Jerome's School and parish through all of their school years. She left lasting and loving impression on a generation of her kids' classmates, having served so many volunteer roles among them all. She and Ric knew great love, but also great sadness at the loss of their daughter, Mimi, to leukemia in 1983 when she was just 17 years old. Moggie created too many deep and lasting friendships to count in all the years raising her kids in the school community, and she would reflect all her life on the value, the love and the comfort those friendships delivered during such loss. Moggie would never stop returning love and honor to those bonds and set a standard for her children on how to give and receive friendship.
After her years at home with kids, she went to work for Inglewood Unified School District as a bilingual classroom aide and ultimately as an office manager in an elementary school. These working years she continued to gather more lasting friendships with her colleagues. Also during this time, her family grew as her kids began to marry and she arrived to her most beloved role of Grammy. She would endure more loss when in 1999, shy of their 35th anniversary, Ric would lose a short and devastating battle with cancer. Faith, family, friends, and especially the grandchildren, would lift her from the sadness. With resilience and moxie she would demonstrate that loss can only improve upon one's appreciation of joy and love, and so she carried a family torch forward with joy and love beyond measure. Moggie was a lifelong resident of Southern California, with two brief periods in the Bay Area, until her move to the Carolinas in 2020. In her Assisted Living residence, she continued to make friends and spread infectious cheerfulness right to the end.
Margarita loved books and movies and music. She was patient at puzzles and a proficient seamstress of "free dress" dresses for all the girls she loved, of gowns, costumes and capes. She loved to dance, even after losing her dance partner. She was a sender of greeting cards on every occasion to everyone special to her, or special to someone she loved. As a widow, she marveled at her own willingness and ability to travel and see more of the world. She was quick to accept an invitation, but also introspective with time spent alone. She loved without abandon her parents, her sisters, her in laws and ensuing cousins, her nieces, nephews, friends that became family, and later, the staff, nurses, aides and residents in her senior community. She gave the best of herself to her children and grandkids, always.
Margarita is preceded in death by her husband, Ricardo Melendez; her daughter, Margarita "Mimi" Melendez; her parents, Frank and Amparo Miranda; her sister, Patricia Miranda. She is survived by her daughter, ---- and son in law --- of Waxhaw, NC; her son --- Melendez and daughter in law --- Melendez of Waxhaw, NC; her grandchildren, --- and ---, ---, --- and ---; her sisters --- and ---.
Rosary and visitation to be held 4-6pm Monday, November 6th at Heritage Funeral Home Chapel 16151 Lancaster Highway Charlotte, NC 28277 and Funeral Mass 12pm on Tuesday, November 7th at Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church 7095 Waxhaw Highway Lancaster, Lancaster SC 29720. Moggie will be buried with her husband, and alongside their daughter, at Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery in Culver City, CA at a later date, TBD. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. https://www.stjude.org/donate
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