Petra Arias Hernandez

Our beautiful mother Petra Arias Hernandez, 92, peacefully returned to the Lord early Sunday morning, December 27, 2015, with family at her bedside.

Petra was born January 18, 1923, in Mexico City, Mexico, to Daniel and Justina Arias. The family immigrated to the U.S. when she was an infant. She grew up the eldest of seven siblings and resided in East Bakersfield all her life. Mom was proud to begin her studies in the first class of East Bakersfield High School in 1938. She eventually left school for work to help her parents support and care for the family.

She married our father Pedro in 1947 and through this union had four children, Tina, Diane, Abel and Gilbert. Widowed in 1964, she continued to raise us on her own. Mom instilled in our family many of the lessons learned during the Depression era: a strong work ethic, nurturing heart, and solid family values. She taught us our Catholic faith by her life's example and was a parishioner of San Clemente Mission, a member of the Legion of Mary, and a member of the Comite Mexicano de Beneficencia.

Petra is preceded in death by her husband, parents, and siblings Tivi Castaeda, Ladi, Paul, and Ralph Arias. She leaves behind a legacy to celebrate her life and spirit, her children and their spouses: Tina & Robert Luna, Diane & Phillip Villanueva, Abel & Cecelia Hernandez, Gilbert & Diana Hernandez; grandchildren: Kirstin Hernandez & Andre Ramos, Matthew & Corina Hernandez, Nicolyn Hernandez, Seth & Sarah Hernandez, Michael Luna, Peter & Emily Hernandez; great-grandchildren: Natalia, Lilia, Ezekiel, Zoe, Luca, Isaiah, and Damian; sister Mary Zapiain, brother Fred Arias, and sisters-in-law Marcie, Sylvia, and Julia as well as many cousins, nieces and nephews.

Her pallbearers will be her grandchildren and honorary pallbearers will be nephews Esteban Zapiain, Alfred and Albert Castaeda, grand-nephews Christian and Dustin Gonzales, and great-granddaughter Natalia Luna.

Visitation for our mother will be held from 4 PM - 9 PM, on Tuesday, January 5, 2016 with rosary recited at 7 PM at Basham Funeral Care Chapel, 3312 Niles Street. Mass will be held on Wednesday, January 6, 2016 at 9:30 AM at San Clemente Mission, 1305 Water Street. Following the mass, interment will be held at Union Cemetery, where Mom will be laid to rest next to our father, Pedro.

We would like to thank all those who have supported our mother and family during her illness. A special thanks to the doctors who have cared for our mother and to her exceptional Hoffman Hospice Team. In lieu of flowers, donations in Petra's memory may be made to San Clemente Mission or to Hoffman Hospice.