Manuela Hernandez Barajas, age 86 of Oxnard, passed away on August 19, 2026.

Our beloved matriarch was born in Casa Blanca, Ayutla, Jalisco on May 18, 1940, to Wenseslao Barajas and Clemencia Llamas. She's survived by her husband, Nicolas, and her loving children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. She met the love of her life through handwritten letters. The two were married April 4, 1964.

Her children meant the world to her, and she prayed the rosary daily for each and every one of them. Lupe (Guillermo Mendez), Evelia, Nicolas (Tina Hernandez), Rosamaria (Pablo Alvarez), Agueda (Noah De Leon), Leobardo (Xochitl Hernandez), Manuel (Jackie Hernandez), Sagrario (Rogelio Hernandez II), Monica (Howdy Rodriguez) and Fermin (Lucila Hernandez-Lopez).

Our mother's favorite role was that as a grandmother and great-grandmother. She treasured her time with her 29 grandkids and loved hearing them call her "Mama Manuela": Sarai, Ianitze and Yara, Alyssa, Joseph, Michelle, Nicaela, John-Gregory and Selena, Asia and Cristian, Mateo and Elias, Xochitl and Itzel, Meredith, Jeshua and Mathias, Rogelio III, Nicolas, Micaela and Juanjose, Daniel and Emanuel, Genesis, Mia, Fermin Jr., Eli and Samuel. And 8 great- grandchildren: Santiago, Catalina, Camila, Rafael and Salma, Malia and Sofia, and Miles.

She loved calling each and every one of her children to check up on them and to know what they were up to. If one of them was not up to date on someone's current events, she'd know for sure!

Our mother will always be remembered for her sharp mind, humor and the way she was unapologetically herself. We'll always imagine hearing her say "are you up, it's late" one more time. We couldn't have asked for a better mother, grandmother, great grandmother and we will miss her every day. Her memory will live on in the hearts of all those who loved her.