Soledad Raya

Soledad Raya, beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, great-great grandmother, and mother-in-law of Modesto, CA passed away as she had lived, with grace and dignity surrounded by her devoted family. She was born on May 19, 1925 in Uriangato, Guanajuato, Mexico to Nicolas and Mercedes Cuevas. Soledad married Simon Ramon Raya in 1944 in Mexico City, Mexico. They moved to Modesto, California in 1952 where they raised their eight children.
Soledad was a woman of humble courage, enduring strength, and deep Catholic faith. She taught her family to make good, moral decisions, to respect others, and to discover ways to find common ground, because love and respect was essential to her character. She taught everyone to always take care of their responsibilities and meet their obligations, because a person's words had value and significance. She instilled her faith within her family and friends, and she remembered other's needs as she prayed every morning and evening faithfully. Soledad's smile was a delight and a surprise. The laughter of her grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great- great grandchildren, brought her unending joy. Her family was the center of her life and will continue to be as she watches over each of us as our guardian angel. We carry her gentle, quiet spirit within each us as we try to learn how to be without her on this physical earth.
Soledad is preceded in death by her husband, Simon; son, Miguel; daughter, Mercedes; and son; and grandson, Tommy Guttierrez. Soledad is survived by her loving children Raymond B. Raya, Gloria M. (Raya) Guttierrez, Jose C. Raya, Mary O. (Raya) Bergara, Lucy A. (Raya) Hernandez, Mario R. Raya, and Rosie M. Raya. She is survived by daughter-in-law, Carol Raya; son-in-law's Thomas Guttierrez, Edward Hernandez, Uzziel Prado, and daughter-in-law Kimberly Schrader. She is also survived by nineteen grandchildren, including Ray, Mike, Dale, Angel, Mikey, Anthony, Joey, Judy, Ezequiel (KoKo), Catrina, Samuel, Michael and Sam, twenty-six great-grandchildren, including Josh, Zachary, Hannah, Elizabeth, Jacob, Matthew, Caleb, Johnny, Isaiah, Yesenia, Esperanza, Malya and Joslyn, and eight great-great grandchildren, including Adrienne, Ramon, and Trinity.
All are welcome to attend Soledad's viewing on Thursday, October 26th from 5:00pm-9:00pm at Franklin & Downs Funeral Home, McHenry Chapel, 1050 McHenry Ave, Modesto, California with the Rosary held at 7:00 pm. Soledad's funeral mass will be held Friday, October 27th at 10:00 am at St. Stanislaus Catholic Church on 709 J St, Modesto with the graveside procession and service following at St. Stanislaus Catholic Cemetery at 1141 Scenic Drive in Modesto. Immediately following is a celebration of Soledad's life at the Community Center behind St. Stanislaus Church on 709 J St. from 12:30pm-3:30pm.