Hope Olvera Luna

Hope was born on March 13, 1926, in Visalia, CA to her parents Blas and Lucy. She spent her formative years in Manteca and Fontana, before residing in the Sheldon/Wilton area. Hope was the third-born of thirteen from her mother Lucy, in order: Josephine, Henry, Hope, Alfonso, Alfred, Helen, Angel, Mary, Ralph, Benny, Rosie, Anita and Salvador. After moving to the Elk Grove area, Hope and her siblings lived on the Bietzel and Riley Ranches. During this time, Hope loved school and she most remembered her teacher, Mrs. Beitzel. Hope attended Elk Grove High School, before she eventually married, moving to Wilton, CA to begin her family. In her early years, Hope worked in the hops in Sloughhouse and would later works a foreman harvesting tomatoes and grapes.

Hope lived in Wilton, with her then husband, Concepcion (d. 1959), where they raised their nine children, Alfonso, John, Richard, Linda, Robert, Alex, Mike, Joe, and Paul. Shortly after Paul was born, Concepcion was in a tragic workplace accident resulting in his death making Hope a single mother. She worked hard as a foreman to provide for her kids, and she made sure they had what they needed; they were rich in love, family, and values. After some time, Hope found love again and had two daughters, Mary and Judy Renteria. This would complete Hope’s family with a total of 11 children.

Hope worked hard throughout her entire life, but through her early years of being a mother her children would often share how strong, spunky and full of life she was. Although raising her 11 children took much time and effort, she found joy in things like celebrations, sports, gardening and music. Hope loved making her children feel special, though limited in material things she would make sure every birthday celebration was special for each of her kids by making them enchiladas with her homemade tortillas to show her love. Hope was known for her love of softball, she loved playing with her family, lining up to home and driving the ball to the outfield and running bases, she loved the thrill of the game. In addition, she kept an immaculate garden, full of beautiful roses and various colorful flowers. She loved her garden and this is where she found her peace and sanctuary with God. Hope also enjoyed music and dancing, whether in her home or at a family gathering you could catch her on the dance floor, she would love dances like the jitterbug. In her home, she has a piano that she found great joy in playing for people. 

Most notably, Hope was an outstanding Christian, always the prayer warrior putting her family and extended family in prayer before Christ. She absolutely loved the Lord and showed her love and adoration through praise and worship. She faithfully attended New Life Tabernacle in South Sacramento. A devoted Christian, she dedicated her time to the Church and God and extended her love and family to her brothers and sisters in Christ, as they did to her and her family. Hope spent her middle and late adulthood with her husband, Jose Rojas (d. 2011). They loved to spend time with the family and each other. They extended their hands to help immigrants achieve their citizenship.They each had a deep love for their Mexican heritage. Rojas, and anyone that ever tried, had a special love for Hope’s cooking, especially her tortillas. Her tortillas deserved awards and recognition from farther than just the greater Sacramento area. The perfect recipe, she spent time and love kneading the dough, sectioning off with ease, rolling the dough to the most perfect round shapes and cooking them over her cast iron. That was Hope, just the perfect balance of everything that made her so special and how she will be remembered: her love, her devotion, her unyielding faith to her family, friends and Christ.

On August 2, 2024, Hope Olvera Luna went home to be with her Lord and Savior. She was surrounded by family and went peacefully in her home at 98 years old in Wilton, CA. Hope is preceded in death by her husbands Concepcion Luna (d. 1959) and Jose Rojas (d. 2011), son Alfonso, daughter Mary Espinoza, grandson Anthony, mother Lucy Garcia as well as her 11 siblings. She is survived by her children John (Nancy), Richard, Linda O’Neill, Robert (Denise), Alex (Sally), Mike, Joe (Sharon), Paul (Susie), Judy Elias (Patrick), 26 grandchildren, 46 great grandchildren, 4 great-great grandchildren, as well as her brother Ralph Garcia (Louise) and numerous nephews, nieces and friends.

Hope will be greatly missed by all those who knew her. She lived a long life, that to those who knew her, wasn’t quite long enough. It was a privilege to have known, loved or been loved by her in any capacity. A testament to her character in how welcoming she was to everyone, she opened her home with no judgment, although tiny, she always made room. Her children’s friends, grandchildren’s friends, even great- and great-great grandchildren and their friends could find home, love and food at Hope’s house. In honor of Hope, her family will be holding memorial services and invite any who can to come celebrate in her life.

Details as follows: A memorial service for Hope is scheduled on Friday, August 30, 2024, at New Seasons Church (6555 44th Street, Sacramento, CA 95823). The viewing will start at 10 a.m., with the service to promptly begin at 11 a.m.. It will be followed by a graveside burial ceremony at 1 p.m. at St. Mary’s Cemetery (6509 Fruitridge Road, Sacramento, CA 95820). Friends andfamily, please join us as we celebrate Hope’s life at the S.E.S. Portuguese Hall (10428 E. Stockton Blvd, Elk Grove, CA 95624) immediately following the burial.