Dora Moraida

Born Nov. 16, 1926, Hidalgo County, Texas Died Dec. 10, 2020, Reseda, California

Dora Moraida died peacefully in her sleep on the morning of December 10, 2020, with her two daughters by her side. She suffered from complications due to Alzheimer’s Disease.
Her life had many challenges, which she faced with courage and strength. She was born in Hidalgo County, Texas, to parents Aurelio & Mercedes Gomez. Her mother died when she was a baby, and much of her childhood was spent moving from one family member to another. She married Thomas Moraida, Sr. in 1946 and had 3 children in Texas. In the mid-1950s, the family moved to California, where she gave birth to 2 more children. Dora and Tom eventually divorced, but she remained always a devoted mother who lived for her children and worked hard to care for them. She had a long career with the Los Angeles Unified School District working as an office manager until her retirement. She continued working long past retirement at various Children’s Centers in the San Fernando Valley. She lived in her Granada Hills home for more than 50 years.

Life threw many challenges at her: the trials of raising 5 children alone, open-heart surgery at the age of 78, the deaths of all 4 of her siblings before her, and the ever-advancing signs of dementia. But she faced her life with an unwavering faith in God.

She was a long-time, devoted member of St. John Baptist de la Salle Catholic Church, where she sang in the choir. It was with that choir that she had the experience of a lifetime, singing for the Pope at St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City. Another dream of hers had been to see the Isle of Capri in the Bay of Naples, Italy, which she did several years earlier with her youngest daughter during a trip to London, Paris, Madrid, and Rome.

She loved to read, to dance, and listen to Frank Sinatra; she also loved playing bingo with friends, and playing the nickel slots in Las Vegas. But most of all, she loved her children, and that was apparent in everything she did.

She died in the home of her daughter, Sandy Beltran. Her other surviving children are Tom Moraida, Jr., Chris Moraida, Lori Moraida Garcia, and their spouses Regina, Debbie, and Rick. Dora is now with her son George Moraida, and son-in-law Johnny Beltran, both of whom passed on before her. She leaves behind 10 grandchildren, 6 great-grandchildren, and a large extended family of nieces, nephews, and cousins.

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