Tributes

Our matriarch, beloved mother, grandmother, sister and friend, Sara Rabara entered eternal life on the morning of Tuesday, January 7, 2020 at the age of 94. Sara was born January 2, 1926 to Ezequiel Garcia and Inocencia Zamorano in Tuxpan, Nayarit, Mexico. She was the third child in her family of seven. At the age of 30, Sara wanted to seek a better life for her and her son, Henry, in America. In 1956, she emigrated to the United States and found gainful employment as the nanny to the Kit Carson family for several years. In 1958, Sara had a friend that would soon introduce her to her future husband, Victor Ramboyan Rabara, a well-respected Filipino labor contractor. Her friend played a key role in their courtship as an interpreter since Sara did not know English and Victor only knew Ilocano and English. On October 14, 1959, Victor and Sara were married in Carson City, Nevada. Through this marriage, three sons were to be added to the family - Victor Rabara Jr., Thomas L. Rabara Sr. and Michael A. Rabara Sr. Amidst raising four sons and performing diligent housewife duties, Sara made time to educate herself. She learned English on her own and became a teacher's aide for Calwa Elementary School. She was affectionately known by all the student's as "Grandma." Sara had a passion for sewing in which she created many Halloween costumes for the grandchildren and numerous summer dresses for her granddaughters. In her later years,she would take on a new role of primary caregiver for her husband. On June 7, 1997, her care duties would be completed upon his death. Nevertheless after his passing, she became very active with her hobbies, her civic clubs and traveling. She was able to travel to various places such as the Philippines, Hawaii, Cancun, Las Vegas and just six months ago, she was vacationing with her grandson and his family in Puerto Vallarta. As many older folks do, she enjoyed her trips up to the local casinos. A devout Catholic woman, she would attend mass at St. John's Cathedral when she was able and up until her passing, she would participate in the daily rosary and mass on Catholic television. Sara lived life to fullest. Her genuine care for her family and her profound faith was her motivation to keep living. Our family would like to extend our most sincere thanks and appreciation to the angels of Hinds Hospice - Stephanie, Pam, Cammy, Tracy and Fu. Your unending care our special lady made this time easier to endure and most importantly, comfortable for her. Thank you as well to her primary care physician, Dr. Jaime Gonzalez at Kaiser who always called her "Mama" and treated her like his own. She is preceded in death by her parents; her loving husband, Victor R. Rabara; her siblings Delfina Medina, Patricio Medina, Josefina Garcia de Davalos, Ramon Garcia and Jesus Garcia. Sara is survived by her children, Henry Serna and his wife Jenny, Victor R. Rabara Jr. and his wife Linda, Thomas L. Rabara Sr. and his wife Connie and Michael A. Rabara. She will also be missed by her grandchildren, Romana Realmo, Stacey Serna, Anthony Lira, Lynette Martinez, Michael J. Rabara, Mario Rabara, Thomas Rabara Jr., Elizabeth Rabara, Gabriel Rabara, Victor Rabara III, Michelle Rabara, Alisha Rabara, Jonathon Rabara, and Priscilla Thompson; a brother, Simon Garcia and a host of great grandchildren and great great grandchildren also survive her. Visitation will be held at Chapel of the Light Funeral Home on Thursday, January 16, 2020 from 12:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. A vigil service will be held at St. John's Cathedral on Thursday, January 16, 2020 at 7:00 p.m. A Funeral Mass will celebrated at St. John's Cathedral on Friday, January 17, 2020 at 10:30 a.m. Entombment will follow in the Garden of Solace at the Chapel of the Light Mausoleum. Remembrances may be made in her honor to Hinds Hospice 2490 W. Shaw, Fresno, California 93720 or to St. John's Cathedral 2814 Mariposa Street, Fresno, CA 93721.

Tributes

Sara G. Rabara

January 2, 1926 - January 7, 2020