Pamela A. Yparraguirre
Did you know Pamela? Please share your stories and photos, and help spread the word about this page!
God blessed the Yparraguirre family with a special earthly angel, Pamela Ann, on December 11, 1962. Fifty-nine years later, on April 6, 2022, she was called Home to our Heavenly Father where she was welcomed by her parents, Louis and Judith who preceded her in death. At her birth, doctors gave her a year to live, but Pamela was a fighter, and against all odds lived a full and precious life.
Pamela is survived by her brother, Patrick, and sister Michelle (Albert) Beltran. She is also survived by 4 nieces, Pamela (Jason) Worford, Jami Benisek, Sara, and Sofia Baca. Pamela is survived by great nephews Brandon, Dylan, Aiden, and Tyson and great nieces Stephanie Worford and Kasey (Kasey) Payan.
Pamela brought great joy to all who met her. She had many friends and always greeted everyone with a warm hug and friendly smile. From infancy Pam found great pleasure in music of all genres. Her favorite, however, was Barbara Streisand and she was loving called "Barbara" by close family. The family has many treasured memories of her singing Streisand's ballads. Pammie had a trademark signal to let you know you had done well: a double thumbs up framing her face as she grinned with a hearty "Aaay!". Yes, imagine Fonzi from her favorite TV show; Happy Days. From the 1970's until his death, Pam affectionately called her father "Fonzi".
Pamela always looked forward to every holiday and each family member's birthday. She remarkably could remember all birthdates and would remind you weeks in advance as she so loved to sing "Happy Birthday" and help you blow out the candles and open your presents, if you'd let her.
Pamela attended Driffill and San Miguel Elementary Schools, Rio Mesa High School. As a young adult, she attended the Dorothy Boswell Post-Secondary Program, and spent 30 years at ARC in Ventura where she made many lifelong friends. Her dear companion, Dougie, was her loyal dance partner and it was common to see her doing her infamous swaying moves, Hawaiian Hula and the Macarena at dances and parties. She fondly referred to ARC as "work" and proudly brought home her paycheck and told her parents she would treat them to pizza, another Pammie favorite. One of Pam's joys in life was good food. She looked forward to her next meal and always left room for dessert. The staff at Yolanda's called her "Princessa" and had a Diet Coke ready at her table during her weekly visits with her parents. The staff would happily substitute the garden salad for a dish of ice cream.
Later in life Pamela acquired the love of coloring and doodling. She filled many rolling suitcases with tablets and coloring books which accompanied her on several family trips to Laughlin. During these trips, she loved the swimming pool and buffets.
Pamela had a great sense of humor without even realizing it. Annually she wished her parents a "Happy Anni-misery". She had a favorite answer at the ready for any question she was not sure of. For example, if asked, "What did you have for lunch today," she quickly replied "I don't know ...yet," even though lunch had passed. She often refused eating vegetables by informing the cook she "was on a diet" while she grinned her signature grin and helped herself to dessert.
The last 16 months of Pammie's life were spent in the loving care of the amazing staff at Pearl House in Oxnard. Her family is deeply appreciative of the unconditional love they lavished on Pamela.
Services are under the direction of Santa Clara Mortuary and Cemetery in Oxnard. Visitation is scheduled on Wednesday, April 27 at 6:00 p.m. Recitation of The Holy Rosary will follow at 7:00 p.m. Funeral Mass will be Thursday, April 28 at 10:30 a.m. at the Mortuary Chapel with burial to follow.