Floyd Hugo "Ditty" Nieblas passed away Saturday due to a lengthy illness.
He was born Oct. 27, 1926, to Ventura Garcia Nieblas and Joseph Nieblas. The first of his ancestors to be baptized in Mission San Juan Capistrano was a 16-year-old Juaneno Indian named Chiqila (her Christian name was Maria Bernarda). On Aug. 30, 1778, she was married at the mission to Jose Antonio de Cota, a soldier from the Mission San Diego Presidio.
Floyd descends from pre-mission early California rancho families. His great-grandparents were Jose Delores Garcia and Maria del Refugia Yorba Garcia, builders of the first Victorian house in San Juan Capistrano, now the location of the San Juan Capistrano Historical Society.
Floyd was raised at Las Rosas, the former Casa Grande where his mother ran a Spanish/Early California restaurant for many years. He attended the old Mission School until eighth grade, graduating in 1940 with other locals such as Norman Belardes, Viola Lobo, Carmen Oyharzabal, Ernestine Sanchez and Manuel Paramo.
On March 19, 1936, at 10 years old, he and his classmates sang "Good Morning Mr. Swallow" and "As I Stroll Through the Old Mission Gardens" as part of the first St. Joseph Day celebration broadcast by NBC from the sacred bell garden at the mission. He was very active in sports, especially basketball. In fact, he returned to coach seventh and eighth grade boys basketball from the 1950s to 1960s.
Along with being an altar server in the historic Serra Chapel, he spent his summer vacations selling wildflower seeds gathered in the hills to mission visitors for 5 cents a bag. While attending old Capistrano Union High School, he worked for a short time with Carmen Oyharzabal at one of the mission ticket booths. He graduated in 1944.
He enlisted in the Navy against his parents' wishes and served in World War II. In 1949, he married Mariruth Kester from Capistrano Beach. He worked for Mission San Juan Capistrano for 42 years, many as the mission's business manager. He raised his children to have a deep respect for the church.
Floyd was the patriarch of his family. A quiet gentleman, proud of his Juaneno/early Spanish, rancho California heritage, proud to be a veteran, proud to show his patriotism, possessing a strong work ethic and steadfast faith. He never wanted to be involved in city politics, tribal issues or clubs. He instead relied on the strong lifetime friendships that surrounded him.
He was always loyal to the original Juaneno Band of Mission Indians, never forgetting their support upon his release as an employee of Mission San Juan Capistrano. Even in his final days, his words ran strong, his spirit was committed and his courage inspired his family.
To honor his passing, the bells in the mission campanario were rung Tuesday by traditional mission bell ringer Mike Gastelum. Rosary is scheduled for 7 p.m. Thursday in Serra Chapel. Funeral Mass will be at 10 a.m. Friday, also in Serra Chapel, with a traditional Capistrano funeral procession to the graveside.
He will be laid to rest among family and lifelong friends at the Old Mission Cemetery.
Floyd is survived by his wife, Mariruth; five children, Floyd Jr., Jerry, Declan, MaryAnne Nieblas Lanssens and DiAnne Nieblas Zampirro; 13 grandchildren; nine great-granchildren; one great-great-granddaughter; brother George; half sister Alice Gastelum; and many nieces and nephews.
ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
November 6, 2012
He was born Oct. 27, 1926, to Ventura Garcia Nieblas and Joseph Nieblas. The first of his ancestors to be baptized in Mission San Juan Capistrano was a 16-year-old Juaneno Indian named Chiqila (her Christian name was Maria Bernarda). On Aug. 30, 1778, she was married at the mission to Jose Antonio de Cota, a soldier from the Mission San Diego Presidio.
Floyd descends from pre-mission early California rancho families. His great-grandparents were Jose Delores Garcia and Maria del Refugia Yorba Garcia, builders of the first Victorian house in San Juan Capistrano, now the location of the San Juan Capistrano Historical Society.
Floyd was raised at Las Rosas, the former Casa Grande where his mother ran a Spanish/Early California restaurant for many years. He attended the old Mission School until eighth grade, graduating in 1940 with other locals such as Norman Belardes, Viola Lobo, Carmen Oyharzabal, Ernestine Sanchez and Manuel Paramo.
On March 19, 1936, at 10 years old, he and his classmates sang "Good Morning Mr. Swallow" and "As I Stroll Through the Old Mission Gardens" as part of the first St. Joseph Day celebration broadcast by NBC from the sacred bell garden at the mission. He was very active in sports, especially basketball. In fact, he returned to coach seventh and eighth grade boys basketball from the 1950s to 1960s.
Along with being an altar server in the historic Serra Chapel, he spent his summer vacations selling wildflower seeds gathered in the hills to mission visitors for 5 cents a bag. While attending old Capistrano Union High School, he worked for a short time with Carmen Oyharzabal at one of the mission ticket booths. He graduated in 1944.
He enlisted in the Navy against his parents' wishes and served in World War II. In 1949, he married Mariruth Kester from Capistrano Beach. He worked for Mission San Juan Capistrano for 42 years, many as the mission's business manager. He raised his children to have a deep respect for the church.
Floyd was the patriarch of his family. A quiet gentleman, proud of his Juaneno/early Spanish, rancho California heritage, proud to be a veteran, proud to show his patriotism, possessing a strong work ethic and steadfast faith. He never wanted to be involved in city politics, tribal issues or clubs. He instead relied on the strong lifetime friendships that surrounded him.
He was always loyal to the original Juaneno Band of Mission Indians, never forgetting their support upon his release as an employee of Mission San Juan Capistrano. Even in his final days, his words ran strong, his spirit was committed and his courage inspired his family.
To honor his passing, the bells in the mission campanario were rung Tuesday by traditional mission bell ringer Mike Gastelum. Rosary is scheduled for 7 p.m. Thursday in Serra Chapel. Funeral Mass will be at 10 a.m. Friday, also in Serra Chapel, with a traditional Capistrano funeral procession to the graveside.
He will be laid to rest among family and lifelong friends at the Old Mission Cemetery.
Floyd is survived by his wife, Mariruth; five children, Floyd Jr., Jerry, Declan, MaryAnne Nieblas Lanssens and DiAnne Nieblas Zampirro; 13 grandchildren; nine great-granchildren; one great-great-granddaughter; brother George; half sister Alice Gastelum; and many nieces and nephews.
ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
November 6, 2012
Floyd Hugo "Ditty" Nieblas passed away Saturday due to a lengthy illness.
He was born Oct. 27, 1926, to Ventura Garcia Nieblas and Joseph Nieblas. The first of his ancestors to be baptized in Mission San Juan Capistrano was a 16-year-old Juaneno Indian named Chiqila (her Christian name was Maria Bernarda). On Aug. 30, 1778, she was married at the mission to Jose Antonio de Cota, a soldier from the Mission San Diego Presidio.
Floyd descends from pre-mission early California rancho families. His great-grandparents were Jose Delores Garcia and Maria del Refugia Yorba Garcia, builders of the first Victorian house in San Juan Capistrano, now the location of the San Juan Capistrano Historical Society.
Floyd was raised at Las Rosas, the former Casa Grande where his mother ran a Spanish/Early California restaurant for many years. He attended the old Mission School until eighth grade, graduating in 1940 with other locals such as Norman Belardes, Viola Lobo, Carmen Oyharzabal, Ernestine Sanchez and Manuel Paramo.
On March 19, 1936, at 10 years old, he and his classmates sang "Good Morning Mr. Swallow" and "As I Stroll Through the Old Mission Gardens" as part of the first St. Joseph Day celebration broadcast by NBC from the sacred bell garden at the mission. He was very active in sports, especially basketball. In fact, he returned to coach seventh and eighth grade boys basketball from the 1950s to 1960s.
Along with being an altar server in the historic Serra Chapel, he spent his summer vacations selling wildflower seeds gathered in the hills to mission visitors for 5 cents a bag. While attending old Capistrano Union High School, he worked for a short time with Carmen Oyharzabal at one of the mission ticket booths. He graduated in 1944.
He enlisted in the Navy against his parents' wishes and served in World War II. In 1949, he married Mariruth Kester from Capistrano Beach. He worked for Mission San Juan Capistrano for 42 years, many as the mission's business manager. He raised his children to have a deep respect for the church.
Floyd was the patriarch of his family. A quiet gentleman, proud of his Juaneno/early Spanish, rancho California heritage, proud to be a veteran, proud to show his patriotism, possessing a strong work ethic and steadfast faith. He never wanted to be involved in city politics, tribal issues or clubs. He instead relied on the strong lifetime friendships that surrounded him.
He was always loyal to the original Juaneno Band of Mission Indians, never forgetting their support upon his release as an employee of Mission San Juan Capistrano. Even in his final days, his words ran strong, his spirit was committed and his courage inspired his family.
To honor his passing, the bells in the mission campanario were rung Tuesday by traditional mission bell ringer Mike Gastelum. Rosary is scheduled for 7 p.m. Thursday in Serra Chapel. Funeral Mass will be at 10 a.m. Friday, also in Serra Chapel, with a traditional Capistrano funeral procession to the graveside.
He will be laid to rest among family and lifelong friends at the Old Mission Cemetery.
Floyd is survived by his wife, Mariruth; five children, Floyd Jr., Jerry, Declan, MaryAnne Nieblas Lanssens and DiAnne Nieblas Zampirro; 13 grandchildren; nine great-granchildren; one great-great-granddaughter; brother George; half sister Alice Gastelum; and many nieces and nephews.
ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
November 6, 2012
He was born Oct. 27, 1926, to Ventura Garcia Nieblas and Joseph Nieblas. The first of his ancestors to be baptized in Mission San Juan Capistrano was a 16-year-old Juaneno Indian named Chiqila (her Christian name was Maria Bernarda). On Aug. 30, 1778, she was married at the mission to Jose Antonio de Cota, a soldier from the Mission San Diego Presidio.
Floyd descends from pre-mission early California rancho families. His great-grandparents were Jose Delores Garcia and Maria del Refugia Yorba Garcia, builders of the first Victorian house in San Juan Capistrano, now the location of the San Juan Capistrano Historical Society.
Floyd was raised at Las Rosas, the former Casa Grande where his mother ran a Spanish/Early California restaurant for many years. He attended the old Mission School until eighth grade, graduating in 1940 with other locals such as Norman Belardes, Viola Lobo, Carmen Oyharzabal, Ernestine Sanchez and Manuel Paramo.
On March 19, 1936, at 10 years old, he and his classmates sang "Good Morning Mr. Swallow" and "As I Stroll Through the Old Mission Gardens" as part of the first St. Joseph Day celebration broadcast by NBC from the sacred bell garden at the mission. He was very active in sports, especially basketball. In fact, he returned to coach seventh and eighth grade boys basketball from the 1950s to 1960s.
Along with being an altar server in the historic Serra Chapel, he spent his summer vacations selling wildflower seeds gathered in the hills to mission visitors for 5 cents a bag. While attending old Capistrano Union High School, he worked for a short time with Carmen Oyharzabal at one of the mission ticket booths. He graduated in 1944.
He enlisted in the Navy against his parents' wishes and served in World War II. In 1949, he married Mariruth Kester from Capistrano Beach. He worked for Mission San Juan Capistrano for 42 years, many as the mission's business manager. He raised his children to have a deep respect for the church.
Floyd was the patriarch of his family. A quiet gentleman, proud of his Juaneno/early Spanish, rancho California heritage, proud to be a veteran, proud to show his patriotism, possessing a strong work ethic and steadfast faith. He never wanted to be involved in city politics, tribal issues or clubs. He instead relied on the strong lifetime friendships that surrounded him.
He was always loyal to the original Juaneno Band of Mission Indians, never forgetting their support upon his release as an employee of Mission San Juan Capistrano. Even in his final days, his words ran strong, his spirit was committed and his courage inspired his family.
To honor his passing, the bells in the mission campanario were rung Tuesday by traditional mission bell ringer Mike Gastelum. Rosary is scheduled for 7 p.m. Thursday in Serra Chapel. Funeral Mass will be at 10 a.m. Friday, also in Serra Chapel, with a traditional Capistrano funeral procession to the graveside.
He will be laid to rest among family and lifelong friends at the Old Mission Cemetery.
Floyd is survived by his wife, Mariruth; five children, Floyd Jr., Jerry, Declan, MaryAnne Nieblas Lanssens and DiAnne Nieblas Zampirro; 13 grandchildren; nine great-granchildren; one great-great-granddaughter; brother George; half sister Alice Gastelum; and many nieces and nephews.
ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
November 6, 2012
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