Irene Frances Valenzuela

March 5, 1945 - November 5, 2023

Colton, CA

Irene, beloved mother and grandmother, passed away peacefully at home on November 5, 2023. She was 78 years old. Irene was a lifelong resident of Colton and she graduated from Colton High School in 1963. She married her high school sweetheart, Ralph, and together they shared nearly 57 years of marriage before Ralph’s passing in 2021. Many people knew Irene as “the church lady,” having accumulated over 30 years with the diocese assisting with catechism and sacrament classes at Immaculate Conception Church in Colton. She retired as a Director of Religious Education in 2008. Irene was also very involved with the schooling and extracurricular activities of her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. She was a cub scout leader for her son and got her daughters into dancing folklorico. She was a classroom mother and aid for years to both her children and grandchildren, often going on field trips and helping with schoolwork. She looked forward to taking them to school and blessing them every morning to have a good day. When Irene wasn’t working or volunteering, she was living her life to the fullest. She knew how to have a good time whether it was just enjoying a small cup of coffee with a little something sweet to go with it, or if it was dancing at one of the many family gatherings held. She was the hostess with the mostess, always there to greet you with a warm, friendly smile and welcome you into her home. Irene had an immense love for all things family and celebrations. She especially loved birthdays where she would sing the Sheriff John song, “Put Another Candle On My Birthday Cake” and her favorite holiday was Christmas. She would proudly wear all of her Christmas sweaters and vests, listen to Christmas music and watch all the Hallmark specials. Being such a generous person and Christmas being known as the giving holiday, it is no wonder that the two went hand in hand. Irene truly was a one of a kind, bringing joy and life to wherever she was. She was often the life of the party and if she was laughing, everyone was laughing. She exemplified the importance of faith, family, virtue, honesty, and kindness. She was a generous soul, giving so much of herself to everyone. To know her was to love her. She was a friend to all and a mom to many. Our hearts are shattered to have lost our favorite person in the whole world, the love of our lives, our true angel on earth, our everything, our beautiful, loving Irene. Irene is survived by her son Ralph (Landon), daughter Regina (Lisa) and her husband Wes, daughter Toni, daughter Roseann, nine grandchildren, five great-grandchildren, siblings Bobby, Yolanda, Johnny, Linda, and Tony, and many nephews and nieces. She was preceded in death by her parents Albert and Sophia, and sister Margaret. 

Services will be held on Thursday, Nov. 30, 2023; Viewing at 10am and Rosary at 11am, followed by Mass at noon at Immaculate Conception Church, 1106 N. La Cadena Dr., Colton, Ca; burial at 1:30pm at Hermosa Cemetery, 900 N. Meridian, Colton, Ca. and reception afterwards at American Legion Post #155, 1401 Veterans Way Colton, Ca.