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In Loving Memory
FLORENCE JUANITA ASUNA PONCHETTI, 96
My Mother, a native American, the great-great-granddaughter of Juan Maria Osuna, first Alcalde (Mayor) of San Diego in 1835, has passed on to her next adventure.
Florence was born in the Santa Ysabel Indian Reservation on April 5, 1908. During her 96 years Florence touched many lives; one of her proudest achievements was providing a home to 22 Indian foster children and also serving as Godmother to many more Indian children in Southern California.
Florence and her husband Steve were spiritual leaders for the Indian people of Southern California until Steve's passing in 1984. Florence continued as spiritual leader until she was forced to stop by failing health.
Florence was chief political supporter to her husband Steve during the Indian political upheaval of the Southwest during the 50s and early 60s of the last century. Steve was instrumental in stopping termination of government control of Indians on reservations in California, Arizona and Nevada.
A Memorial Service in her honor will be held at the Santa Ysabel Indian Mission in Santa Ysabel at 10:00 a.m., Saturday October 16.
Donations in her honor may be made to the Salvation Army or Father Joe's Villages, 1550 Market Street, San Diego, CA 92101.
Please sign the guest book at obituaries.uniontrib.com.
Excerpts from Union-Tribune, 10/26/04.
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