Former Congreswoman Loretta Sanchez contacted me this afternoon to let me know her mother, Maria S. Macias Sanchez, passed away last month.
“She was loved by so many in OC because she gave so much of her time to people,” Sanchez told TheLiberalOC. “The real people.”
Here’s the full obituary:
Maria Socorro Macias (Sanchez), beloved mother, grandmother, aunt, teacher and friend, passed peacefully in her sleep after a lengthy battle with Alzheimer’s. She is survived by her children, Loretta Sanchez, Frank Sanchez, Martha Sanchez Cannady, Ignacio R. Sanchez, Linda Sanchez, and her five grandchildren, Yannick LeBail, Katrina Cannady, McKenna Cannady, Joaquin Sullivan and Jacob Holt. Her two sons, Henry Sanchez and Mike Sanchez, predeceased her.
Maria Macias led an extraordinary life. She was born in Agua Prieta, Mexico and lost her father at a young age. Her mother eventually immigrated to the United States, and it was here that Maria began her pursuit of the American dream. She married Ignacio Sandoval Sanchez and began a family that grew to seven children. After settling down in Anaheim to raise her kids, Maria became active in their many activities, including Little League, Bobby Sox Softball, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, AYSO soccer and the PTA. She was always there to help with a smile on her face, and her cooking – which often raised funds to support these activities – was legendary.
Maria’s love of learning and push for education began with her own children, all seven of whom attended college and became professionals in business, finance, engineering and public service. Maria Macias is the only mother in the history of the United States to have two daughters serve in the United States Congress. However, when a reporter once commented that she must be proud of Loretta and Linda, she fiercely replied, “I am proud of all my children!” letting the world know that all her children’s successes were noteworthy.
Even though she enjoyed motherhood, Maria decided to go back to school at night to earn an AA degree, then her BA degree, teaching credential and classes towards her Masters degree from Cal State Fullerton. At a time when it was almost unheard of, she was an older, non-traditional student doggedly pursuing her dream of having a career.
Maria was a passionate advocate for bilingual education at a time when immigrant students were often marginalized and left to fend for themselves. She was a supporter of early learning and year-round programs for migrant students. She believed that education was the key to increased opportunities and economic prosperity. She loved teaching, and her quick wit, indefatigable spirit, generosity, and dedication inspired generations of students to achieve success.
Her teaching career spanned working in the Anaheim City and Anaheim High School Districts, Santa Ana Unified, Gates Elementary in Lake Forest, and Region 9 Migrant Education. She was an active member of the Association of Mexican-American Educators (AMAE), serving as their Treasurer and interfacing with elected officials to advocate for bilingual education programs. Over the course of her career, she was recognized many times over for her accomplishments, and in 2008 Cal State Fullerton featured her in their photo gallery of outstanding Latino/a alumni entitled, “Querer es Poder” or “If you have the desire, you can achieve.” She will be remembered as a trailblazer that made countless contributions to her community and to the world.
Services for Maria Macias will be held on May 30, 2025, at St. Anthony Claret Catholic Church, 1450 E. La Palma Avenue, Anaheim, CA 92805. Rosary from 10-11 am, funeral mass from 11 am-12 pm and reception immediately following. In lieu of flowers, family requests that you make a donation to Region 9 Migrant Education (link below) or Alzheimer’s OC (alzoc.org).
If you didn’t make it, it was a wonderful service with Sanchez family members and friends. Many thanks to those who attended included Congressman Lou Correa, Assembly Rep Sharon Quirk-Silva and her husband Jesus Silva, Supervisor Katrina Foley, Congressional candidate Joe Kerr and his wife China, Sergio Contrerras, Anaheim’s Wiley Aitken, and DPOC chair Florice Hoffman. Rep. Linda Sanchez delivered a heartfelt eulogy to her mother that was also a tribute to her mother’s cooking. People in OC forget how much we owe the Sanchez sisters for the rise of the Democratic Party in OC over the past 30 years.