In Remembrance of Julian Juarez

If you were lucky enough to spend a lot of time with Papa Julian, you remember him as a gentle and kind man who always had a big smile for his grandkids. He enjoyed a good shot of tequila, usually with his lunch, but most of all, he loved having babies around and holding his new grandchildren. He was blessed to meet three of the newest editions to our family during this crazy year before he passed away.

Julian Carrillo Juarez, born January 27, 1921, left a towering legacy in this world. Papa Julian as he is known to his grandchildren, great grandchildren and great, great grandchildren, lived a quiet but impactful life. He worked extremely hard to provide for Mama Cuca and his family, searching for work in the fields relentlessly in a time when being a migrant worker meant you had to face unimaginably hard working conditions.

Papa Julian didn't care. He did what he needed to do, crossing the border to the U.S. illegally dozens of times and sometimes even hitching a ride on freight trains to get to where he needed to go; Salinas, Delano, Fresno; wherever he could find work. When he finally got his papers and found steady opportunities in the Coachella Valley, he migrated his entire family there in 1965. He helped to build a good life for his family in Indio and Tecate and made many, many good friends along the way. 

Papa Julian leaves behind his wife of 73 years, 10 children, 31 grandchildren, 58 great grandchildren and 5 great, great grandchildren. If you would like to help contribute to his burial fund, please give any amount, no matter how small, to help us reach our goal. Contributions can be given anonymously.