* Viola Mary Sanchez; Lifelong El Rio Resident

Viola Mary Sanchez, a homemaker and lifelong El Rio resident, died Monday at St. John’s Regional Medical Center in Oxnard. She was 71.

She was born Viola Mary Ramos on Dec. 6, 1927, in El Rio and attended school there. She married Manuel G. Sanchez in 1945, shortly before she turned 18.

Viola Sanchez was an avid poker player and loved going to Las Vegas. Her family said she liked to tell jokes and make people laugh.

Daughter Molly Sanchez, also of El Rio, remembers her mother as very giving and honest. “She always told it like it was,” Molly Sanchez said.

In addition to her husband of 53 years and daughter Molly, Sanchez is survived by another daughter, Carmen Sanchez of Oxnard; a son, Manuel Sanchez of Oxnard; two brothers, David and Ralph Ramos, both of Oxnard; a sister, Nena Sabedra of El Rio; eight grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Viewing will be from 4 to 6 p.m. Thursday at the James A. Reardon Mortuary in Oxnard. A rosary is set for 7 p.m. at the Santa Clara Catholic Chapel in El Rio.

A Mass is scheduled at 10 a.m. Friday at the Santa Clara Catholic Chapel, with Father Charles O’Gorman officiating. Burial will be at the Ivy Lawn Cemetery in Ventura.

Arrangements are under the direction of James A. Reardon Mortuary in Oxnard.