Dora Olivas was first married to Charles Pedraita on 3 February 1907, San Luis Obispo County, California
They had two daughters: Hazel Lily Pedraita, born 1908, and Viola Violet Pedraita, born 1910
and later divorced year unknown
Then Dora Pedraita married Delfino Villa on 24 December 1914 per San Luis Obispo County Marriage Index 1850 - 1930, Book J, page 299 and they also had two daughters: Vivian Juanita Villa born 1919; and Elizabeth Grace Villa, born 1922
Newspaper article, Gonzales Tribune, Sat., July 3, 1897: "Unclaimed Letters"
"Following is a list of unclaimed letters remaining in the post office at Gonzales, Cal., on the 1st day of July, 1897:
Olivas, Miss Dora . . .
To obtain any of these letters the applicant must call for advertised letters. If not called for within thirty days they will be forwarded to the Dead Letter Office. H.R. Farley, Postmaster."
Newspaper Article (source unknown, assume Santa Maria paper, date about Feb. 1985)
"Dora Villa attributes long life to hard work"
"Dora Villa of Santa Maria was honored last week with a family barbecue in celebration of her 98th birthday.
The longtime local resident, who also lived in Modesto, was born on February 26, 1887 in Salinas, Monterey County.
Still active and generally healthy, the honoree jokes on her birthday that she really was only 39 years old.
With her for the celebration were her four daughters: Hazel Edders [Eggers] of Modesto and Viola Miranda, Vivian Rodriguez and Betty Tiboni, all of Santa Maria.
Villa is grandmother to eight grandsons and one granddaughter, and has 10 great grandsons, 10 great granddaughters, and four great great grandsons, four great great granddaughters.
Villa spent her birthday wearing a corsage of red and white roses pinned to a dress in her favorite color, lavender. She also was gifted with cards and gifts.
The widow of the late Delphino Villa, the honoree has been active locally in the Eagles, Moose, Santa Maria Pioneers, IDES and Native Daughters of the Golden West in her younger years.
For the past few years she lived in Modesto, moving back to "my hone town of Santa Maria" last June to live in the family home on North Oakley Street.
She remembers when the Pacific Coast narrow gauge railroad trains ran almost through her back door and the trolley went from Santa Maria to Guadalupe, she explained.
Villa traces her roots back to both Mission Indians and Spanish citizens in the Salinas area. She was a member of the DonReyes family that moved from Salinas to Santa Margarita when she was a young girl.
She jokes when people ask if she's related to Pancho Villa, the California historical character. Although she sometimes claims him as a relative, it only happens when she is joking, because is not related to this notorious character.
The honoree credits her longevity to "hard work," with her four daughters echoing that sentiment. Villa worked as a "fancy presser" for Eddie Johnson's sanitary steam laundry, according to daughters Viola and Betty. Villa and her daughters guess she worked for more than 35 years in that laundry and another in Santa Maria, American Cleaners and Laundry, operated by Glenn Seaman.
Villa remembers days of work on fancy ruffles and fine tucks, working with irons heated on a gas burner and held with a pot holder.
"We has three irons . . . a big one, a small one and a tiny one," she explained.
Daughter Betty remembers sleeping under a table in the laundry, before she started school, while her mother worked.
"That was before Social Security," her daughter remembered, and "we made 33 and a third cents an hour."
Dora's husband, who died many years ago, worked on highway construction projects in various areas of the Central Coast, including stints with the state highways department.
Travel has always been Villa's favorite hobby, and even at 98, she is the first person ready to take a drive or go visiting. "I also love to fly," she explains. She's traveled to Arizona and Nevada and into Mexico, as well as most areas of California.
"Mother may say she has a headache, but it disappears if you ask her if she wants to take a ride," explained daughter Viola.
Her daughters explain that even though she is nearing 100, Dora is a "strong woman." All four of her daughters are widows, and their mother was with them adding her support, when their husbands died.
She's strong, and "a little hard-headed," added Viola, explaining that her mother's twinkling eyes hide a strong-willed spirit that keeps her going, even at 98."
Newspaper obituary from the Santa Barbara News Press, June 1987:
"Dora A. Villa, 99; from pioneer family
Santa Maria - Dora A. Villa, 99, a resident of Santa Maria for more than 60 years, died Monday in Modesto while visiting relatives.
Mrs. Villa was a descendant of families that settled in Monterey County in the 1700's. A homemaker, Mrs. Villa was born Feb. 26, 1887, in Gonzales.
Survivors include four daughters, Betty Tiboni of Santa Maria, and Hazel Eggers, Viola Miranda and Vivian Rodriguez, all of Modesto; nine grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren; and 13 great-great-grandchildren.
The rosary will be recited at 7 p.m. Thursday at the Dudley-Hoffman Mortuary. Mass will be said at 1 p.m. Friday at St. Louis De Montfort Catholic Church. Burial will be at Santa Maria Cemetery. Visitation will be from 1 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the mortuary."
Obituary from the Santa Maria Times, January 14, 1987 (courtesy of research by the Santa Maria Public Library, Mr. Daniel Slutske, Library Technical Assistant):
"Dora A. Villa
Rosary will be recited at 7 p.m. Thursday in the Chapel of Dudley-Hoffman Mortuary for Dora A. Villa, 99, who died Monday in Modesto, while visiting relatives, of natural causes. Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 1p.m. Friday at St. Louis de Montfort Catholic Church. Burial will follow in the Santa Maria Cemetery.
Pallbearers will include Frank Tiboni, Jr., Stanley and Richard Rodriguez, Alfred Lopez, Ted and Norman Azevedo.
Mrs. Villa was born in Gonzales, and was a member of pioneer families settling in Monterey County in the 1700s. She had lived in Santa Maria for over 60 years. In her early years, she was active locally in the Eagles and Moose lodges, Santa Maria Valley Pioneers, IDES and Native Daughters of the Golden West.
Survivors include her daughters, Hazel Eggers, Viola Miranda and Vivian Rodriguez, all of Modesto, and Betty Tiboni, Santa Maria; nine grandchildren, 20 great grandchildren and 13 great-great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, Delphino Villa, in 1975.
Friends may visit from 1 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Dudley-Hoffman Mortuary."
They had two daughters: Hazel Lily Pedraita, born 1908, and Viola Violet Pedraita, born 1910
and later divorced year unknown
Then Dora Pedraita married Delfino Villa on 24 December 1914 per San Luis Obispo County Marriage Index 1850 - 1930, Book J, page 299 and they also had two daughters: Vivian Juanita Villa born 1919; and Elizabeth Grace Villa, born 1922
Newspaper article, Gonzales Tribune, Sat., July 3, 1897: "Unclaimed Letters"
"Following is a list of unclaimed letters remaining in the post office at Gonzales, Cal., on the 1st day of July, 1897:
Olivas, Miss Dora . . .
To obtain any of these letters the applicant must call for advertised letters. If not called for within thirty days they will be forwarded to the Dead Letter Office. H.R. Farley, Postmaster."
Newspaper Article (source unknown, assume Santa Maria paper, date about Feb. 1985)
"Dora Villa attributes long life to hard work"
"Dora Villa of Santa Maria was honored last week with a family barbecue in celebration of her 98th birthday.
The longtime local resident, who also lived in Modesto, was born on February 26, 1887 in Salinas, Monterey County.
Still active and generally healthy, the honoree jokes on her birthday that she really was only 39 years old.
With her for the celebration were her four daughters: Hazel Edders [Eggers] of Modesto and Viola Miranda, Vivian Rodriguez and Betty Tiboni, all of Santa Maria.
Villa is grandmother to eight grandsons and one granddaughter, and has 10 great grandsons, 10 great granddaughters, and four great great grandsons, four great great granddaughters.
Villa spent her birthday wearing a corsage of red and white roses pinned to a dress in her favorite color, lavender. She also was gifted with cards and gifts.
The widow of the late Delphino Villa, the honoree has been active locally in the Eagles, Moose, Santa Maria Pioneers, IDES and Native Daughters of the Golden West in her younger years.
For the past few years she lived in Modesto, moving back to "my hone town of Santa Maria" last June to live in the family home on North Oakley Street.
She remembers when the Pacific Coast narrow gauge railroad trains ran almost through her back door and the trolley went from Santa Maria to Guadalupe, she explained.
Villa traces her roots back to both Mission Indians and Spanish citizens in the Salinas area. She was a member of the DonReyes family that moved from Salinas to Santa Margarita when she was a young girl.
She jokes when people ask if she's related to Pancho Villa, the California historical character. Although she sometimes claims him as a relative, it only happens when she is joking, because is not related to this notorious character.
The honoree credits her longevity to "hard work," with her four daughters echoing that sentiment. Villa worked as a "fancy presser" for Eddie Johnson's sanitary steam laundry, according to daughters Viola and Betty. Villa and her daughters guess she worked for more than 35 years in that laundry and another in Santa Maria, American Cleaners and Laundry, operated by Glenn Seaman.
Villa remembers days of work on fancy ruffles and fine tucks, working with irons heated on a gas burner and held with a pot holder.
"We has three irons . . . a big one, a small one and a tiny one," she explained.
Daughter Betty remembers sleeping under a table in the laundry, before she started school, while her mother worked.
"That was before Social Security," her daughter remembered, and "we made 33 and a third cents an hour."
Dora's husband, who died many years ago, worked on highway construction projects in various areas of the Central Coast, including stints with the state highways department.
Travel has always been Villa's favorite hobby, and even at 98, she is the first person ready to take a drive or go visiting. "I also love to fly," she explains. She's traveled to Arizona and Nevada and into Mexico, as well as most areas of California.
"Mother may say she has a headache, but it disappears if you ask her if she wants to take a ride," explained daughter Viola.
Her daughters explain that even though she is nearing 100, Dora is a "strong woman." All four of her daughters are widows, and their mother was with them adding her support, when their husbands died.
She's strong, and "a little hard-headed," added Viola, explaining that her mother's twinkling eyes hide a strong-willed spirit that keeps her going, even at 98."
Newspaper obituary from the Santa Barbara News Press, June 1987:
"Dora A. Villa, 99; from pioneer family
Santa Maria - Dora A. Villa, 99, a resident of Santa Maria for more than 60 years, died Monday in Modesto while visiting relatives.
Mrs. Villa was a descendant of families that settled in Monterey County in the 1700's. A homemaker, Mrs. Villa was born Feb. 26, 1887, in Gonzales.
Survivors include four daughters, Betty Tiboni of Santa Maria, and Hazel Eggers, Viola Miranda and Vivian Rodriguez, all of Modesto; nine grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren; and 13 great-great-grandchildren.
The rosary will be recited at 7 p.m. Thursday at the Dudley-Hoffman Mortuary. Mass will be said at 1 p.m. Friday at St. Louis De Montfort Catholic Church. Burial will be at Santa Maria Cemetery. Visitation will be from 1 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the mortuary."
Obituary from the Santa Maria Times, January 14, 1987 (courtesy of research by the Santa Maria Public Library, Mr. Daniel Slutske, Library Technical Assistant):
"Dora A. Villa
Rosary will be recited at 7 p.m. Thursday in the Chapel of Dudley-Hoffman Mortuary for Dora A. Villa, 99, who died Monday in Modesto, while visiting relatives, of natural causes. Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 1p.m. Friday at St. Louis de Montfort Catholic Church. Burial will follow in the Santa Maria Cemetery.
Pallbearers will include Frank Tiboni, Jr., Stanley and Richard Rodriguez, Alfred Lopez, Ted and Norman Azevedo.
Mrs. Villa was born in Gonzales, and was a member of pioneer families settling in Monterey County in the 1700s. She had lived in Santa Maria for over 60 years. In her early years, she was active locally in the Eagles and Moose lodges, Santa Maria Valley Pioneers, IDES and Native Daughters of the Golden West.
Survivors include her daughters, Hazel Eggers, Viola Miranda and Vivian Rodriguez, all of Modesto, and Betty Tiboni, Santa Maria; nine grandchildren, 20 great grandchildren and 13 great-great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, Delphino Villa, in 1975.
Friends may visit from 1 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Dudley-Hoffman Mortuary."
Dora Olivas was first married to Charles Pedraita on 3 February 1907, San Luis Obispo County, California
They had two daughters: Hazel Lily Pedraita, born 1908, and Viola Violet Pedraita, born 1910
and later divorced year unknown
Then Dora Pedraita married Delfino Villa on 24 December 1914 per San Luis Obispo County Marriage Index 1850 - 1930, Book J, page 299 and they also had two daughters: Vivian Juanita Villa born 1919; and Elizabeth Grace Villa, born 1922
Newspaper article, Gonzales Tribune, Sat., July 3, 1897: "Unclaimed Letters"
"Following is a list of unclaimed letters remaining in the post office at Gonzales, Cal., on the 1st day of July, 1897:
Olivas, Miss Dora . . .
To obtain any of these letters the applicant must call for advertised letters. If not called for within thirty days they will be forwarded to the Dead Letter Office. H.R. Farley, Postmaster."
Newspaper Article (source unknown, assume Santa Maria paper, date about Feb. 1985)
"Dora Villa attributes long life to hard work"
"Dora Villa of Santa Maria was honored last week with a family barbecue in celebration of her 98th birthday.
The longtime local resident, who also lived in Modesto, was born on February 26, 1887 in Salinas, Monterey County.
Still active and generally healthy, the honoree jokes on her birthday that she really was only 39 years old.
With her for the celebration were her four daughters: Hazel Edders [Eggers] of Modesto and Viola Miranda, Vivian Rodriguez and Betty Tiboni, all of Santa Maria.
Villa is grandmother to eight grandsons and one granddaughter, and has 10 great grandsons, 10 great granddaughters, and four great great grandsons, four great great granddaughters.
Villa spent her birthday wearing a corsage of red and white roses pinned to a dress in her favorite color, lavender. She also was gifted with cards and gifts.
The widow of the late Delphino Villa, the honoree has been active locally in the Eagles, Moose, Santa Maria Pioneers, IDES and Native Daughters of the Golden West in her younger years.
For the past few years she lived in Modesto, moving back to "my hone town of Santa Maria" last June to live in the family home on North Oakley Street.
She remembers when the Pacific Coast narrow gauge railroad trains ran almost through her back door and the trolley went from Santa Maria to Guadalupe, she explained.
Villa traces her roots back to both Mission Indians and Spanish citizens in the Salinas area. She was a member of the DonReyes family that moved from Salinas to Santa Margarita when she was a young girl.
She jokes when people ask if she's related to Pancho Villa, the California historical character. Although she sometimes claims him as a relative, it only happens when she is joking, because is not related to this notorious character.
The honoree credits her longevity to "hard work," with her four daughters echoing that sentiment. Villa worked as a "fancy presser" for Eddie Johnson's sanitary steam laundry, according to daughters Viola and Betty. Villa and her daughters guess she worked for more than 35 years in that laundry and another in Santa Maria, American Cleaners and Laundry, operated by Glenn Seaman.
Villa remembers days of work on fancy ruffles and fine tucks, working with irons heated on a gas burner and held with a pot holder.
"We has three irons . . . a big one, a small one and a tiny one," she explained.
Daughter Betty remembers sleeping under a table in the laundry, before she started school, while her mother worked.
"That was before Social Security," her daughter remembered, and "we made 33 and a third cents an hour."
Dora's husband, who died many years ago, worked on highway construction projects in various areas of the Central Coast, including stints with the state highways department.
Travel has always been Villa's favorite hobby, and even at 98, she is the first person ready to take a drive or go visiting. "I also love to fly," she explains. She's traveled to Arizona and Nevada and into Mexico, as well as most areas of California.
"Mother may say she has a headache, but it disappears if you ask her if she wants to take a ride," explained daughter Viola.
Her daughters explain that even though she is nearing 100, Dora is a "strong woman." All four of her daughters are widows, and their mother was with them adding her support, when their husbands died.
She's strong, and "a little hard-headed," added Viola, explaining that her mother's twinkling eyes hide a strong-willed spirit that keeps her going, even at 98."
Newspaper obituary from the Santa Barbara News Press, June 1987:
"Dora A. Villa, 99; from pioneer family
Santa Maria - Dora A. Villa, 99, a resident of Santa Maria for more than 60 years, died Monday in Modesto while visiting relatives.
Mrs. Villa was a descendant of families that settled in Monterey County in the 1700's. A homemaker, Mrs. Villa was born Feb. 26, 1887, in Gonzales.
Survivors include four daughters, Betty Tiboni of Santa Maria, and Hazel Eggers, Viola Miranda and Vivian Rodriguez, all of Modesto; nine grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren; and 13 great-great-grandchildren.
The rosary will be recited at 7 p.m. Thursday at the Dudley-Hoffman Mortuary. Mass will be said at 1 p.m. Friday at St. Louis De Montfort Catholic Church. Burial will be at Santa Maria Cemetery. Visitation will be from 1 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the mortuary."
Obituary from the Santa Maria Times, January 14, 1987 (courtesy of research by the Santa Maria Public Library, Mr. Daniel Slutske, Library Technical Assistant):
"Dora A. Villa
Rosary will be recited at 7 p.m. Thursday in the Chapel of Dudley-Hoffman Mortuary for Dora A. Villa, 99, who died Monday in Modesto, while visiting relatives, of natural causes. Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 1p.m. Friday at St. Louis de Montfort Catholic Church. Burial will follow in the Santa Maria Cemetery.
Pallbearers will include Frank Tiboni, Jr., Stanley and Richard Rodriguez, Alfred Lopez, Ted and Norman Azevedo.
Mrs. Villa was born in Gonzales, and was a member of pioneer families settling in Monterey County in the 1700s. She had lived in Santa Maria for over 60 years. In her early years, she was active locally in the Eagles and Moose lodges, Santa Maria Valley Pioneers, IDES and Native Daughters of the Golden West.
Survivors include her daughters, Hazel Eggers, Viola Miranda and Vivian Rodriguez, all of Modesto, and Betty Tiboni, Santa Maria; nine grandchildren, 20 great grandchildren and 13 great-great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, Delphino Villa, in 1975.
Friends may visit from 1 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Dudley-Hoffman Mortuary."
They had two daughters: Hazel Lily Pedraita, born 1908, and Viola Violet Pedraita, born 1910
and later divorced year unknown
Then Dora Pedraita married Delfino Villa on 24 December 1914 per San Luis Obispo County Marriage Index 1850 - 1930, Book J, page 299 and they also had two daughters: Vivian Juanita Villa born 1919; and Elizabeth Grace Villa, born 1922
Newspaper article, Gonzales Tribune, Sat., July 3, 1897: "Unclaimed Letters"
"Following is a list of unclaimed letters remaining in the post office at Gonzales, Cal., on the 1st day of July, 1897:
Olivas, Miss Dora . . .
To obtain any of these letters the applicant must call for advertised letters. If not called for within thirty days they will be forwarded to the Dead Letter Office. H.R. Farley, Postmaster."
Newspaper Article (source unknown, assume Santa Maria paper, date about Feb. 1985)
"Dora Villa attributes long life to hard work"
"Dora Villa of Santa Maria was honored last week with a family barbecue in celebration of her 98th birthday.
The longtime local resident, who also lived in Modesto, was born on February 26, 1887 in Salinas, Monterey County.
Still active and generally healthy, the honoree jokes on her birthday that she really was only 39 years old.
With her for the celebration were her four daughters: Hazel Edders [Eggers] of Modesto and Viola Miranda, Vivian Rodriguez and Betty Tiboni, all of Santa Maria.
Villa is grandmother to eight grandsons and one granddaughter, and has 10 great grandsons, 10 great granddaughters, and four great great grandsons, four great great granddaughters.
Villa spent her birthday wearing a corsage of red and white roses pinned to a dress in her favorite color, lavender. She also was gifted with cards and gifts.
The widow of the late Delphino Villa, the honoree has been active locally in the Eagles, Moose, Santa Maria Pioneers, IDES and Native Daughters of the Golden West in her younger years.
For the past few years she lived in Modesto, moving back to "my hone town of Santa Maria" last June to live in the family home on North Oakley Street.
She remembers when the Pacific Coast narrow gauge railroad trains ran almost through her back door and the trolley went from Santa Maria to Guadalupe, she explained.
Villa traces her roots back to both Mission Indians and Spanish citizens in the Salinas area. She was a member of the DonReyes family that moved from Salinas to Santa Margarita when she was a young girl.
She jokes when people ask if she's related to Pancho Villa, the California historical character. Although she sometimes claims him as a relative, it only happens when she is joking, because is not related to this notorious character.
The honoree credits her longevity to "hard work," with her four daughters echoing that sentiment. Villa worked as a "fancy presser" for Eddie Johnson's sanitary steam laundry, according to daughters Viola and Betty. Villa and her daughters guess she worked for more than 35 years in that laundry and another in Santa Maria, American Cleaners and Laundry, operated by Glenn Seaman.
Villa remembers days of work on fancy ruffles and fine tucks, working with irons heated on a gas burner and held with a pot holder.
"We has three irons . . . a big one, a small one and a tiny one," she explained.
Daughter Betty remembers sleeping under a table in the laundry, before she started school, while her mother worked.
"That was before Social Security," her daughter remembered, and "we made 33 and a third cents an hour."
Dora's husband, who died many years ago, worked on highway construction projects in various areas of the Central Coast, including stints with the state highways department.
Travel has always been Villa's favorite hobby, and even at 98, she is the first person ready to take a drive or go visiting. "I also love to fly," she explains. She's traveled to Arizona and Nevada and into Mexico, as well as most areas of California.
"Mother may say she has a headache, but it disappears if you ask her if she wants to take a ride," explained daughter Viola.
Her daughters explain that even though she is nearing 100, Dora is a "strong woman." All four of her daughters are widows, and their mother was with them adding her support, when their husbands died.
She's strong, and "a little hard-headed," added Viola, explaining that her mother's twinkling eyes hide a strong-willed spirit that keeps her going, even at 98."
Newspaper obituary from the Santa Barbara News Press, June 1987:
"Dora A. Villa, 99; from pioneer family
Santa Maria - Dora A. Villa, 99, a resident of Santa Maria for more than 60 years, died Monday in Modesto while visiting relatives.
Mrs. Villa was a descendant of families that settled in Monterey County in the 1700's. A homemaker, Mrs. Villa was born Feb. 26, 1887, in Gonzales.
Survivors include four daughters, Betty Tiboni of Santa Maria, and Hazel Eggers, Viola Miranda and Vivian Rodriguez, all of Modesto; nine grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren; and 13 great-great-grandchildren.
The rosary will be recited at 7 p.m. Thursday at the Dudley-Hoffman Mortuary. Mass will be said at 1 p.m. Friday at St. Louis De Montfort Catholic Church. Burial will be at Santa Maria Cemetery. Visitation will be from 1 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the mortuary."
Obituary from the Santa Maria Times, January 14, 1987 (courtesy of research by the Santa Maria Public Library, Mr. Daniel Slutske, Library Technical Assistant):
"Dora A. Villa
Rosary will be recited at 7 p.m. Thursday in the Chapel of Dudley-Hoffman Mortuary for Dora A. Villa, 99, who died Monday in Modesto, while visiting relatives, of natural causes. Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 1p.m. Friday at St. Louis de Montfort Catholic Church. Burial will follow in the Santa Maria Cemetery.
Pallbearers will include Frank Tiboni, Jr., Stanley and Richard Rodriguez, Alfred Lopez, Ted and Norman Azevedo.
Mrs. Villa was born in Gonzales, and was a member of pioneer families settling in Monterey County in the 1700s. She had lived in Santa Maria for over 60 years. In her early years, she was active locally in the Eagles and Moose lodges, Santa Maria Valley Pioneers, IDES and Native Daughters of the Golden West.
Survivors include her daughters, Hazel Eggers, Viola Miranda and Vivian Rodriguez, all of Modesto, and Betty Tiboni, Santa Maria; nine grandchildren, 20 great grandchildren and 13 great-great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, Delphino Villa, in 1975.
Friends may visit from 1 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Dudley-Hoffman Mortuary."
Family Members
Half Siblings
