Mary Victoria Mondragon "Vickie Cornejo"

                                      Mary Victoria (Vickie Cornejo) Mondragon

Our mother and grandmother went to be with her Savior on July 11, 2021 at the age of 73.

She was born in Bakersfield on January 15, 1948 to Francisco & Anita Cornejo.  She was the eldest of five children and was more like a mother than a sister to her siblings.

Her father, who operated Cornejo & Sons Market, decided to open a restaurant down the street on Potomac Ave in 1978, called La Colonia.  It was Vickie, who ran it for the first couple of years before she was joined by her brothers, Frank & Joe. She previously had a restaurant, some years before off Baker Ave., called Gena’s.  She was a business owner for over 25 years. 

She had a dramatic conversion when she met Jesus and it was apparent to everyone that she was totally transformed by Him.  She loved the community of faith expressed through the church, always inviting people and sharing her faith.  She loved fellowshipping over food. She was very active in her church, Family Life Christian Fellowship and in a weekly women’s prayer meeting. She was always serving in the kitchen and picking up her friends to take to church. She was a woman of faith til the very end. She believed with her whole heart that Jesus would heal her and He did, completely!

She had an eye for great bargains and enjoyed finding gifts for family and friends.  Her sense of humor and contagious laugh brought joy to those around her.  Her brothers loved to tease her and she could give it right back which always made all of us laugh.  She was so giving and always did something to acknowledge her loved ones’ celebrations, birthdays, baby showers, graduations, etc.  It was obvious to all of us what was most important to her: family.  She gave generously of her time to help with grandkids, indulging them in the way good Grandmas do.  She was full of life and always on the go and intentional in arranging to spend time with friends and family.  She was such a loving and caring mom and grandmother who will be missed every day.

It was at La Colonia where she reunited with her childhood friend and found the love of her life, Cuahtemoc (Temo) Mondragon.

Vickie leaves behind her children:  Maryann Bethel, Lisa Silva (Al), Gena Garcia (Mark), Erica Crespo (Rafael), Jonathan Lopez (Crystal), 14 Grandchildren and 17 great children.  Siblings:  Frank Cornejo (Dora), Joe Cornejo (Yolanda), Jimmy Cornejo , Gloria Ruiz (Pete).

She was preceded in death by her husband, Cuahtemoc (Temo) Mondragon, her son, Michael Rea and her son-in-law Mark Bethel.