Alba Elena Gaxiola, 62 of Los Mescales Sinaloa Mexico and resident of Lompoc since 1978, passed away Tuesday July 2, at the Lompoc Hospital.

Visitation hours will be held from 4-7pm. Wednesday July 10, 2013 at La Purisima Catholic Church, 213 West Olive Avenue. Recitations of the holy rosary will begin at 7pm. A funeral mass will be celebrated at 10:00 am. Thursday July 11th. Funeral Services will conclude on Friday at the Lompoc Evergreen Cemetery July 12th at 10:00am.

Alba was born February 11th 1951, in Sinaloa Mexico to Rosa Maria Rocha and Fortino Perez. She completed 6 years of schooling as a child in Mexico. When Alba first arrived in this country her profession began in agriculture, but her passion was for cooking. Alba's dream goal was finally reached when she became co-owner of El Camaron Taquero. Other local establishments where she worked include Lompoc Steak House, and the Marriott in Buellton.

Alba was the oldest of four sisters. Her sisters are Altagracia Perez, Beatris Frutos y Nati Spiess. Among them she also had six brothers, Beto, Ismael, Fernando, David, Fortino, and Quitillo Perez. From the age of 18 Alba showed the goodness of her heart. She was left with the responsibility of caring for her brothers and sisters after her mother passed away. At this time her youngest sister Nati was very young and Alba took her in and raised her as her own, showing her unconditional and loving heart that Alba always had.

Alba was a brave and wonderful woman. She was a loving wife, mother and grandmother. Alba was an inspiration to everyone that knew her. She had an amazing strength that helped fight her illness of cancer for over 20 yrs and the struggles of life without ever complaining. Alba was a fighter and never gave up her fight against cancer till the very last day. She left this world with a smile on her face.

Alba was also a woman full of wisdom and understanding; she always knew exactly what to say and had words of advice and encouragement for everyone she came across.

Alba left behind a great legacy of strength, joy, love and faith to her husband Antonio Gaxiola, children Nati Spiess, Eduardo Gaxiola, Maricela Flores, grandchildren Daniela, Dylan Spiess, Mario Flores and son in-law Eddie Flores who she loved as a son. Her legacy will always be remembered until the end of time among all her loved ones. With that legacy she also left with words of strength, requesting that she wanted no tears to be shed.

We will always love her.