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Mary Rachel Tovar
Mar 16, 1934-Oct 21, 2017
Mary Tovar

Rachel Tovar — Mom, Aunt, Grandma and friend — died peacefully at home of natural causes on Saturday, October 21, 2017. Rachel was born in the small town of Brawley, California in the spring of 1934. She was raised by her parents Ramon and Florentina Diaz along with her four sisters and two brothers. She married her husband, Adam Tovar, on January 02, 1951 before they eventually settled in Turlock, California and raised six children of their own. They were married for 52 years before Adam’s death in 2003.

Rachel spent many hours cheering on her children and grandchildren at their sporting events and rarely missed an occasion to get out and socialize or celebrate the many milestones in her family’s lives. If there was music and dancing, you could always spot her out on the dance floor. On most Sundays she enjoyed attending church service at Sacred Heart Catholic Church. Rachel loved to be out in her yard and on a nice day you could find her pulling weeds, pruning roses or planting flowers. Rachel always had a dog by her side and her most recent four-legged friend, Halo, will be missing her dearly.

The holidays always meant so much to Rachel. Christmas at Rachel’s meant homemade tamales, a house full of people and lots of laughs. She had a great sense of humor, and although it was subtle at times, she could find the funny or positive side of whatever life happened to throw her way. It will be hard to forget someone who gave us so much to remember.

Rachel leaves behind four children: sons Adam Tovar (Lisa), Joe Tovar (Jan) and Jeff Tovar (Thelma) and daughter Michelle Johnson (Matt). They blessed her with 19 grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren and one great-great grandchild. Rachel was predeceased by her daughter Sandra Medeiros and her son Chano Tovar.

A funeral Mass will be held at 1 p.m. Friday at Sacred Heart Church, 1200 Lyons St., Turlock. Burial to follow at Turlock Memorial Park, 425 N. Soderquist Rd.