Virginia Carranza
Obituary

Our Beautiful Ginnie

It's hard to talk about memories of only Ginnie because we always did things together, but these are some memories we thought of:

Younger days
We grew up poor when we were little, we lived in the Maravilla Projects in East LA. We were neighbors with the Fonseca Family of boys. The older boys were mean but the younger two were our friends and would play and do things together Danny and Ernie.

There was Saturday Free Swimming at the Plunge and we would take turns going swimming because we only had 3 bathing caps, first the 3 older sisters and then the 3 younger sisters. Ilma loves pancakes and would stay home eating pancakes all day long until everyone was back from swimming, so it was even number of 3 going to the pool.

Across the street from the Projects was a little mom and pop store where we could buy things. The younger sisters (Ilma, Yolie, Ginnie and Gilda) and Danny and Ernie would ask the neighbors if we could take out their trash and they would give us their soda bottles that we would take into the store and buy candy. One time, a neighbor wasn't home who had a fruit tree. We climbed up the tree but got caught and she was mad, so we climbed up the tree to the roof and walked across the rooftop of the connected homes and jumped down at the end - scary moment.

Another time, we walked to the nearby park and police station that had an open house. They had trays of cookies, so we helped ourselves to the cookies. We were a happy little group.

Not sure of the times of the month but there was a delivery van with a very kind man who would come by to deliver baked goods to the mom and pop store across the street from the projects. We knew when he would come by so we would sit on the curb and wait for him and say - Hi Mr. Pie Man. The sweet pie man must have felt sorry for us and would smile and give us a pie. This happened each time he came by until the mean boys stole from his van and then no more pies for the poor little girls sitting on the curb.

Not having much money and grandma working, we were left on our own most of the time. We played Pick Up Sticks, dominos, and cards - Crazy 8, and Rummy to keep ourselves entertained. One summer the younger girls (Ilma, Yolie, Ginnie and Gilda) were sent to a summer camp for underprivileged kids (poor). The counselors were probably also a sponsored group because they were not very professional or well trained. We were met every morning to the counselors with hickeys and the flagpole tied with bras and underwear. During the summers the younger sisters would have to stay with our dad and his new family. Ginnie has a scar under her chin from falling in the bathtub and hitting her chin on a soap dish.

One day Yolie and Ginnie drank pickle juice which made them sick. Ginnie got very sick. Mom had to take her to the hospital where they pumped her stomach. Another time - sneaking around Gilda and Ginnie were at dad's and they thought they found chocolate - they and ate almost an entire box of laxatives.

At a young age Ginnie had her wild long golden hair and her blue eyes. Later in high school she wore an afro. She was always a beauty.

One very memorable moment that we all remember is how Ginnie always knew what a beautiful person she was from a young age. At this time, she told mom I'm more beautiful than you, mom told her she was. From this young age she just knew what a beautiful person she was and would grow up to be with a beautiful heart.

Happy memories: The excitement that was shared when mom took us to the opening of the one of the first 7/11's for Free Slurpees. Yolie, Ginnie and Gilda taking the bus to the Garmar Theatre after Christmas, with the Ribbon Candy from Grandma Cuca, to watch Willie Wonka when it first came out. Going with Mom and David to a time share weekend in California City, in the desert in the middle of nowhere - so proud, wearing go-go boots and ponchos that were all the rage.

School
We moved to Montebello when Ginnie was in first grade. She went to Greenwood Elementary for 1st-6th Grade. 7th-8th grade - Montebello Junior High. 9th-12th grade - Montebello Senior High School. She received her AA at East Los Angeles College (degree unknown).

In high school Ginnie was a Flag Color Guard, and she had to wear a wiglet with cascade curls as part of the uniform. She made the cheer squad but because we couldn't afford all that was required, she decided on Flags that didn't require as much. Also, in high school she took woodshop class where she carved a beautiful duck. It was carved, stained and polished beautifully. She gave it to her boyfriend at the time.

In her junior year she played in High School Powder Puff Football where she played against the senior class – Yolie's team. Ginnie's team - the Juniors Won.

There were summers spent in Carlos' parents' pool. The time we crammed in Carlos' VW bug going to the snow - how many people can you squeeze in a VW Bug? On another trip - Uncle Albert and Auntie Vibiana took Rosie, Yolie and Ginnie on a trip to the Grand Canyon and then Yosemite. Ginnie fell asleep on the way and it was hot. Ginnie started to take off some of her layers of clothes needless to say - she was a little ripe. They stopped at a gas station and kicked Ginnie out and told her to wash up before she could get back in. On this same trip, while camping and making dinner a small bat fell into a pot that was cooking.

When Ginnie had her wisdom teeth pulled, her cheeks were so swollen she looked like the comic strip character Little LuLu. She would smoke joints for the pain.

Older Life
In Ginnie's young adult life, she enjoyed her 3-day weekend cruises with her girlfriends.

Ginnie worked at American Produce as a bookkeeper where she had coffee and donuts every morning. There she learned to make beautiful ribbons.

Ginnie learned to read fortunes with cards and was good at it. Vib called Ginnie The Dreamer of the family because she would get messages in her dreams.

Ginnie told me about when she met Mike and how she knew he was The One. They met working at Xerox. She told me he would leave her little things and that he was a Nice Guy. We have choices and she said she would rather have a nice guy in her life. Mike was nice, he would love her like she loved him. He was The One!

Married and now with Matt and Michelle we would go on camping trips and to Big Bear in the snow. On one camping trip in Yosemite, it was in the morning, and we were getting done with breakfast and cleaning up, the kids were playing, Michelle was about 3 years old, and a coyote came into the campground where we were and going toward where Michelle was. Ginnie's mama instinct kicked in and she rushed in and scooped up Michelle out of harm's way. On different trips to Yosemite with different sisters and families we always shared moments of floating down the river and star gazing in the meadow or from our camp sites. On another trip to Lake Tahoe, Uncle Mike told the kids about Snipe hunting with a bag and a flashlight. We all had a good laugh watching them run around. There are memories of Camping at Camp Pendelton, Crater Lake with the Rosie and Carlos. On another trip they went to visit Matt and LuLu and went rafting. On this same trip Ginnie and Rosie were looking at the clouds and noticed a very unusual cloud formation in the shape of a complete rectangle with precise right angles.

Rosie and Carlos were fortunate to have Ginnie and Mike live with them for a short time. Happy memories.

Ginnie had a love for reading and sharing books with the sisters. She loved her Thrift Store and Swap Meet shopping for bargains. She was very talented in many ways and had a way with colors: making patch work quilts, crocheting blankets, making necklaces, and painting. She was a wonderful cook and loved baking and making candied apples for holidays. She always had the house decorated for all the holidays making the home festive and happy. She loved family get togethers and hosting Mother's Day and Thanksgiving. She loved our family.

Ginnie was a wonderful mother, sister, grandmother, godmother and aunt. She was always there if you needed her. If you needed an ear to listen, or quick drop by when Ely needed a potty break while waiting for his mom after school. She gave great advice. Gilda says this is the reason she first went out with Uncle Teddy. She was generous with all that she had. She gave Gilda her old car that dad fixed up it was Gilda's first car. She always made you feel welcomed. We miss her so much!