Born in El Rio to Lena Estrada, her mother, and Benjamin C. Herrera, her father. Minnie graduated from Santa Paula High School. She married the love of her life, Woody Ybarra, from Fillmore. They married in December, New Year’s Eve, 1949. They both for a time worked at the Naval Base in Port Hueneme and had their first baby. They then decided to work closer to home. She loved volunteering in the community and being an active member of PTA for her children. When all three of their children were in school Minnie began working for the Fillmore Unified School District. She worked for the Migrant program and was passionate and caring to help all parents become active participants in their children’s education. Minnie continued working as one of the secretaries for Sespe School in Fillmore. She was very helpful above and beyond her regular job. Minnie was the one to reach out and help others to make things right. As a mother, she guided us to do what was right and to help toward the goodness of all people. She worked with the police department and began what was known as The Block Parent Program in Fillmore. Later on she became involved in the Neighborhood Watch program. She lost her mom at an early age and she could never do enough to help children in need.
Minnie enjoyed her family first and foremost. She loved telling stories. She often read stories for the Fillmore Library which she enjoyed. It became a summertime ritual to have neighborhood children at our house for story time. She was a natural at this and always had a captivating ability for attention. Minnie, loved interacting with our neighbors in Los Serenos. She’d make homemade tortillas and shared them with the kids spreading butter onto the freshly made tortillas that smelled and tasted delicious!!!
Minnie loved her family. She and Woody were blessed with three children, five grandchildren, and later nine great grandchildren. After moving to Ventura they enjoyed taking their grandchildren to school and picking them up. Especially enjoyed attending the sports games, band concerts and any other events that were important to their grandchildren and eventually for great grandchildren. She loved watching people, sitting on the porch, and visiting.
Minnie’s blessings were all who cared for her to the very end and her Woody! She was loved and respected for her wisdom and faith that guided her throughout her life. She will be missed.
A special thank you to Livingston Hospice for their recent help at home and all who cared for Minnie.
Woody, her husband, and daughter Evie preceded her in death; they were always in her heart.
She is survived by her daughter Barbara Leija (husband Ernie), and her son Robert Ybarra. Her grandchildren Elizabeth Mason (husband Chris), Robert Grosfield Jr., Eric Leija (Jeannette), Jeremy Leija (wife Cynthia), Matthew Ybarra (wife Taryn) and great grandchildren, Michael and Christopher Giordano, Conner and Claire Mason, Ashlee and Rylan Ybarra, Eric Leija Jr., and Aleena, and Juliana Leija.
She cherished all her siblings and their families, close friends, plus all family who preceded her in death. She loved and held dearly in her heart Mrs. Elizabeth Blanchard who also preceded her in death.
A private funeral is planned as were her wishes. A celebration of her life will be held in her honor at a later time.