The Downey Patriot

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Grace Trejo

May 15, 1927 - October 21, 2022

Grace Trejo, 95, passed peacefully from this Earthly plane on Friday, October 21, 2022, in her Downey, CA home surrounded by family and friends.

Born Graciela Olivia Rasor on May 15, 1927, in El Paso, Texas, she was the daughter of Carlos “Charles” and Herminia Rasor and was younger sister to Yolanda Rasor. She was lucky enough to have met the love of her life Martiniano “Martin” Trejo when they were young. They married in a brief ceremony in 1942 just before Martin shipped off to serve in the US Navy during World War II. When Martin safely returned after the war, they had a formal wedding at the Church of the Immaculate Conception in El Paso on Halloween 1945 and moved afterward to Los Angeles. They remained married and in love for 56 years until Martin’s passing in 1999.

Grace and Martin had their first child, Martin “Itzy” Trejo, in 1947. The couple also had two daughters, Olivia Roberts and Alicia Jamison. The family moved to Downey, California in the early 1950s to the home where Grace resided for the remainder of her life. Grace was a homemaker until 1963 when Alicia started school, after which she joined Chem Lab in Downey, CA, where she worked for 42 years. Because she seemed to have boundless energy, she was affectionately known as “The Energizer Bunny”. After Grace’s first grandchild was born in 1970, she simply became known as “Grandma” to almost everyone. Ultimately, she had 7 grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren that brought immense joy to her life.

Grace was known for her warmth and kindness, which made everyone around her feel loved. Grace and Martin also hosted Christmas Eve parties at their home for family and friends as far back as everyone can remember. Grace treasured having everybody around, even into her twilight years, talking, eating and laughing among her loved ones was one of her favorite things.

Grace was beloved by her family and friends, who were always there for her through thick and thin. In her last week of life, many came from all over the country to say their final farewells. Grace was predeceased by her parents and sister, her husband Martin, her daughter Olivia, Olivia’s husband Jack and Jack’s brother Ronald. She is survived by her son Martin and his wife Patricia, and their children Martin, Michele, and Marie; her daughter Alicia and husband Todd, and their daughters Bradley and Jamie; Olivia’s daughters Jillian and Tina; 12 great-grandchildren; and by many loving nieces and nephews.

For more information of services on Monday, November 7 and Tuesday, November 8, 2022, please visit www.chapelofmemoriesfuneralhome.com/obituary/grace-trejo.