After a long struggle with Parkinson's disease, our beloved mother, Theodora Melendez De La Rosa Basulto, found peace and serenity with God on May 17, 2015.

A ninth generation Californian, proud Mexican American and descendant of Chumash ancestry, Dora was especially proud of her family's participation in the Armed Forces of this country with ancestors who fought bravely in every American war.

Dora was born on November 9, 1927 in Saticoy, CA, the first born child of Refugio Melendez and Isabel Ortega. As a child, Dora was raised by her godparents, Casimiro and Refugio Delarosa, first in Simi Valley, CA, and later in San Fernando, CA. Dora attended San Fernando Elementary, San Fernando Middle School and San Fernando High School and even in her later years, she remained a faithful, die-hard San Fernando Tigers fan, following her alma mater team and rooting them on.

Dora worked at a various jobs in the late 40's through the early 60's including packing oranges in San Fernando, Bermit Company in Saugus and assembler for Warwick a division of Pacific Mercury, producing many of the earliest televisions in the 1950's. In the late 1960's, she worked for Withrow Die Casting, as a trim press operator and later attended the North Valley Occupational Center learning advanced machinist techniques. Eventually she moved on to become a machine operator at Rantec in Calabasas CA, where she worked until her retirement in 1991. Following her retirement, Dora returned to her alma mater of San Fernando High Middle School to work as a cafeteria worker. She truly loved her time here and enjoyed working with the students and her cafeteria coworkers.

As a single mother, Dora worked hard to keep her family clothed and fed sometimes working 2 full time jobs, a fact she took great pride in.

Dora loved life and never missed an opportunity to enjoy time with friends and family. She was an avid bowler, bowling for many years in leagues all across the San Fernando Valley. She had a true joy and love of life, and was particularly fond of dancing and all kinds of music from oldies, to pop, to cumbias and ranchera music. Her lifelong love was her beloved Los Angeles Dodgers, whom she followed religiously. Even through to her last days, she could recite every player's stats, and never missed a chance to cheer them on by watching every game on television.

Our mother, grandmother, sister and friend will be truly missed. Her contagious laughter, knack for "dirty" jokes, love of family, friends and "Los Dodgers" echoes in the hearts of all who were lucky enough to have known her and we take comfort knowing that the loss of her bright and vibrant light in our world will truly be Heaven's gain. Her strength and gracious smile shines brightly in the eyes of her 3 children, 6 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren.

Dora leaves behind two daughters, Sarah Basulto-Evans, Frances Shupe and her son, Eusebio Basulto. She is also survived by her six grandchildren, Jennifer, Tara, David, Victoria, Amanda and Michael, as well as her five great grandchildren, Ryan, Jessica, Jacob, Benjamin and Melina, her sister Angela, brothers Raymond and Donald (Danny), countless nieces, nephews, cousins and friends, all who will truly miss her laughter and contagious smile. We love you, Mom.

In Lieu of flowers, please donate to the Parkinson's Foundation or to a charity of your choice.