Manuela (Nellie) C Carrillo was born January 7, 1927 in Fillmore, California to Guadalupe and Encarnacion Carrillo. Nellie peacefully passed from this earth on January 27, 2024 at the age of 97, surrounded by nieces, nephews and close family friends.
Nellie was the last surviving original Carrillo family member and was proceeded in death by her siblings, Josephine (Chirina) Ortiz, Helen Romero, Agapito (Peter) Carrillo, and Simon Carrillo. She graduated from Fillmore high and spent her entire life in Fillmore. She lost her father at the very young age of 8 years old. Because of her loss she developed a very strong work ethic and was very frugal with her earnings. She was very active and knew many people in the community, in her younger years she enjoyed being a member of the alter society at St. Francis of Assisi Church. She’s shared stories that as a young girl her family had no extra money to donate to the church so in a effort to give back to their church her mother would wash and press the linens for the alter at the old church on Central Ave.
As a young high school girl she worked in the local packing house packing oranges and lemons while attending school and also picked up other side jobs along the way.
Upon graduation she began to work at the local bakery, then Cloughs Pharmacy as well as working a short time at a local downtown jewelers. In addition she worked at Bank of A. Levy prior to her mother becoming ill, at which time she had to quit to become her mother’s full time caregiver. Nellie was a part time caregiver to a number of elderly family members who had no one else to care for them. She continued these tasks until her mother’s passing in 1986.
She then began a new career running a family fruit stand, The Piru Country Store, Piru, Ca. stocked from oranges picked from the families citrus ranches. She and her sister Helen enjoyed making new acquaintances they made from customers stopping by to purchase fruit and sometimes just stopping by to say hello. Nellie retired from the fruit stand in 2015 at the young age of 88.
Nellie and her family sacrificed and worked together to acquire numerous properties in the Fillmore area.
In addition Nellie was a very knowledgeable family historian. Up until her death she had a very sharp mind and she was the go to person for anyone seeking information about a family member or member of the community. Nellie was incredibly devoted to her Catholic faith, praying daily for family members as well as enjoying daily mass on television. She looked forward to receiving weekly communion from Deacon Ramon and we thank him for his dedication.
In addition the family would like to thank family friend Lupe Solis for her years of loving devotion and care of our beautiful aunt.
Her services will be held on Friday, February 23, 2024, St. Francis of Assisi Church, Fillmore, Ca. Services begin at 10:00 am. Rosary followed by mass at 10:30. A private burial will take place on a future date.