Winifred Monica Facio Vega Obituary (1952 - 2014)

Winifred "Winnie" Vega age 61 and a lifelong Porterville resident and Tule River Indian Tribe member passed away March 21, 2014 at her home following a lengthy illness. She was born in Porterville July 12, 1952 to Wilfred and Verna Vega and attended local schools including Porterville High School. From an early age Winnie learned from her mother the value and importance of family and because of that, has spent the majority of her life nurturing and caring for not only her immediate family but extended family as well. Winnie has always organized family get-togethers and prepared the food and provided a loving place for family and friends to meet and feel welcome. Lovingly referred to as "Auntie Winnie", she helped raise many of her nieces and nephews and as they grew older and has even cared for many of their children as well. She was very welcoming, had a kind heart and no one left her home hungry, especially after she offered you some of her homemade biscuits, enchiladas, stews, tortillas or any number of delicious foods she prepared. Auntie Winnie was a blessing to so many and even though she had no children of her own, she was a "mother" to so many. She was a member of the Tule River Indian Tribe and a Tribal Elder. She was preceded in death by her parents, Willie and Verna Vega and her sister Susie Vega. Surviving family includes her husband Ralph. 5 brothers: Ted Vega (Toots). Ray Vega, Delbert Vega (Raina Nieto), Clyde Vega (Irene Ortega) and Preston Vega (Alecia). Numerous nieces and nephews including Eric Vega, Tracy Vega, Elena Eugene Vega, Fatima Cota, Val Vega and Vance Vega. Visitation will begin at 5:00pm Friday March 28th and a 6:00pm Recitation of the Holy Rosary at the Tule River Indian Reservation Mater Dolorosa Catholic Mission. Mass of the Resurrection will be 10:00am Saturday March 29th at Mater Dolorosa Catholic Mission followed by interment at the Upper Tule River Indian Reservation Cemetery.