Jesus R. Salcido; Oxnard Homemaker

Jesus Romero Salcido of Oxnard, a homemaker born in a covered wagon as her parents fled the revolution in Mexico for a better life in the United States, died Thursday at her home following a lengthy illness. She was 101.

Salcido was born Jan. 7, 1896, in Baja, California. “Her parents were on the road coming here in a covered wagon. They found a lake and they wanted their baby to be born in that beautiful spot,� said Salcido’s granddaughter, Maria Coulson of Oxnard.

“My great-grandfather moved his family here because they didn’t want the revolutionaries to get their sons. The revolutionaries would draft the boys just by taking them away. He was saving his family,� Coulson said.

At age 14, she married Alfredo Bernard Salcido in 1910 in La Paz, Mexico, Coulson said. Later that year they moved to Calexico, Calif., where Alfredo worked as a butcher and a farm laborer.

Salcido did not attend school. Rather, she spent most of her life caring for the couple’s 13 children. Occasionally she would work as a farm laborer, her granddaughter said.

“Back then, the women would raise their families. That was her whole life, her family. Up to the very end that was her life,� Coulson said.

They moved to Oxnard in 1940, where Salcido remained until her death. Her husband died in 1978.

“We were very poor but we were happy. My mother was a good mother. She took care of us,� said Salcido’s daughter, Sofia Rodriguez of Oxnard.

Salcido was preceded in death by her husband; three sons, Albert R., Albert M. and Arnold; and two daughters, Teresa and Teresa M.

In addition to Coulson and Rodriguez, Salcido is survived by six daughters, Socorro Gutierrez of Calexico, Sara Acuna of Fremont, Vera Del Real of Oxnard, Margaret Grajeda of Oxnard, Madalena Quintana of Compton and Esther Figueroa of West Covina; one son, Alfredo B. Salcido Jr. of Oxnard; numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.

Viewing is from 3 to 9 p.m. Sunday at James A. Reardon Chapel in Oxnard. A celebration of life will be held Monday at 10:30 a.m. at Reardon Chapel. A service will follow at Santa Clara Cemetery in Oxnard.

Arrangements are under the direction of James A. Reardon Mortuary, Oxnard.