Jessie B. DeLira was born in Los Angeles, California on September 8th 1923 to Ygnacio & Micayla Cordova. The 2nd eldest of her siblings, Jessie was raised in the Mesa and Phoenix area of Arizona. A tomboy to the core, Jessie always spoke about how she wasn't much for housework or girly things when she was a kid. She loved playing in the dirt, working on the family car with her dad and swimming in the canals to beat the Arizona heat. With only a 4th grade education, Jessie dropped out of school in an effort to help bring more income to the family. Not only was she a hard worker but she also loved to dance jitterbug and sing with her sisters in her younger years. She and her sisters would dance late into the night and return home to sleep for only a few hours before waking up early to work in the fields the next day. Years later, the family relocated to Salinas, California where her mother had more children, making Jessie one of ten. In the late 1940s, Jessie met her husband John DeLira and they married on March 1st 1949 in Monterey California. Together they had 3 children, Robert DeLira of San Diego CA, Jessie Hager of La Pine Oregon and Rita Adams of Lompoc CA. God and family were very important to Jessie. She was a member of La Purisima Concepcion Church since 1949 and raised all of her children in the church. In addition to being involved at church, she was also very committed to forwarding herself in all aspects of life. She was a go getter and never saw anything as too much of a challenge. She pursued her high school equivalency and earned her GED in 1966. Soon after she graduated, she worked for the State of California Employment Office and retired after almost 15 years. Later in life, she enjoyed working in her garden, crocheting for her grandchildren, spending time with her husband and family and staying active with her church. Some of her favorite hobbies included crossword and Jigsaw puzzles, bird watching and admiring pretty flowers. She was a member of the Catholic Daughters of the Americas, St. Anthony's Guild, The Altar Society and the Legion of Mary. On March 5th 2017, Jessie B. DeLira passed peacefully in the comfort of her Lompoc home of 63 years. She is survived in life by her 3 children, 9 grandchildren, 17 great grandchildren and her siblings Angela Ramirez, Martin Cordova, Joe Cordova and Mary Reynada. She is preceded in death by her parents, husband and siblings Victoria Cisneros, Petra Cruz, Lupe Valverde, Raymond and Manuel Cordova.
Vigil services will be 6pm Thursday, March 9, 2017 at the chapel of Starbuck-Lind Mortuary. A funeral mass will be celebrated 10am Friday at La Purisima Catholic Church with Rev. Mike Sezzi, Celebrant. Burial will follow at Lompoc Evergreen Cemetery.
Flowers are welcomed and may be sent to Starbucklind Mortuary or you may make a donation to La Purisima School in her name.