Manuel Martinez Plaza Obituary

Manuel Martinez Plaza, 81 years of age, passed peacefully on March 27, 2024 at Kaiser Hospital Riverside, after a 5-month battle with stage 3 melanoma. He was surrounded by multiple family members.Manuel was born on September 11, 1942 in Mexico City, Mexico to the late Jose Estevez Plaza and Celestina Martinez Plaza. He was the eldest son of thirteen children, his siblings included, Fortunata Ortiz, Rosa Farias, Joe Plaza, Sara Martinez, Lupe Reyes, Maria Plaza, Robert Plaza, Carmen Ruiz, Dolores Farnsworth, Johnny Plaza, Margarita Plaza, and Martin Plaza.Manuel, along with his parents and siblings, relocated to Corona, California in 1959. He worked as a laborer and ultimately retiring from Quikrete Concrete at age 65 years.Our father lived a rich, full life. He and our late mother were honored as Grand Marshalls of the Cinco de Mayo Parade in 1985. He worked diligently with the Corona Soccer Club, mentoring the youth of Corona by coaching a soccer team called Corona Dragons United; the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), and local political campaigns. His hobbies included tending to his garden, was the best MacGyver, and could fix anything you put in front of him, he loved listening to his cumbias and Mariachi music.Manuel is survived by his wife of seven years, Timotea Barajas Plaza, and preceded by his late wife of 43 years, Mary Bracamonte Plaza. Together they had five children, Norma Plaza (Jose De La Rosa), Manuel Plaza (Donna Plaza), Willie Plaza (Angie Plaza), Irene Plaza and Linda Esparza (Joe Esparza); eight grandchildren, Jenice Valdez (Anthony Valdez), Samantha Leonardo (Ryan Leonardo), Tommy Salcido (Stephanie Rubalcava), Andrew Plaza (Stephanie Plaza), Christopher Plaza-Alonzo, Nicholas Plaza-Alonzo, Joseph Esparza Jr., and Jayden Esparza; three great-grandchildren, Reese Plaza, Jayla Valdez and Noah Salcido.Friends may call Monday, April 8, 2024, 5:00pm-9:00pm for viewing and Celebration of Mass, Tuesday, April 9, 2024, 9:00am with burial following at Pierce Brothers Crestlawn Memorial Park and Mortuary.