Andrew G. Saldana

Andrew Gilbert Saldaña

Andrew Saldaña was a kind, fun-loving, outgoing man who touched many lives with his love, great sense of humor and down to earth wisdom.  He was born in Fresno, CA on May 21, 1937, the third child of a large, loving Mexican-American family. His father, Jesús Saldana, was born in San Francisco del Rincón, Guanajuato, Mexico. Helen Bañuelos, his mother, had roots in Zacatecas, Mexico.  He had two older sisters, Pearl and Ruby, and a younger sister, Esther. He also had four younger brothers, Jesse, Henry, Leonard, and Ernie.

The joy of his life was his family, especially his four children, Corinne, Lyssa, Laurra and Andrés Carlos, and his three granddaughters, Samantha, Bryanna and Myranda, all of whom he loved dearly. The death of his daughter, Corinne, in 2005 affected him deeply and changed him, but he retained his positive nature. He loved people and the San Francisco 49ers.  For 42 years, he and his wife, Magda, shared a love for their culture, their Catholic faith, their family, and music, singing, dancing, and nature. Andrew found God in nature; in retirement he spent hours each day working in his garden, feeding the birds, watching the flowers and butterflies, and walking by the ocean.

From the time he was very young, he worked in the fields to help support his family. There he learned the plight of immigrant farm workers. After graduating high school, he worked in an auto-body shop. Soon after, he begun a successful career in the U.S. Postal Service that lasted 45 years. He was clerk and supervisor in Fresno, window supervisor in Santa Ana, and Postmaster in Parlier CA and in Dana Point CA. After retiring, he traveled all over Southern California as a courier, and used the opportunity to explore different restaurants and cuisines.

Andrew lived his responsibility to civic engagement. He served in the Army National Guard for a decade. He was a founding leader of the Association of Mexican-American Postal Employees, dedicated to promoting qualified minorities to supervisory posts. He was involved in starting a LULAC (League of United Latin American Citizens) Chapter in Dinuba. He served on the board of directors of U.S. Employees Credit Union of Fresno (now First California Federal Credit Union), on the board of United Health Centers of San Joaquin Valley and on the planning committee of the Parlier Roundup. He was involved in PTA at his daughters’ schools, and in Toastmasters. He actively supported the United Farm Workers Union. After moving to Southern California, he continued to back groups that support immigrants and marginalized people.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Jesse and Helen Saldaña, his sisters Pearl Saldaña, Ruby García, and Esther Saldaña, and his daughter, Corinne DeLeón. He is survived by his wife, Magda Saborío-Saldaña, his children, Lyssa Padilla and husband, Tom, Laurra Martinez and husband, David, and Andres Saldaña and wife, Catherine, and his granddaughters, Samantha Padilla, Bryanna Padilla, and Myranda Galván and husband, Julian. He is also survived by four brothers, Jesse Saldaña and wife, Genny, Henry Saldaña, Leo Saldaña, and Ernie Saldaña and wife, Lydia, and many cousins, nieces, nephews and great-nieces and nephews.

Visitation is scheduled for Thursday, May 16, 4:30PM to 8:00PM. Time of Remembrance is scheduled from 6:30 PMto 7:30 PM at Dilday Chapel, 17911 Beach Blvd. Huntington Beach CA

Relatives and friends are invited to join our family for the Funeral Mass celebrating Andrew’s new birth, at 10:00 AM on Friday, May 17 at Sts. Simon & Jude Church, 20444 Magnolia St. Huntington Beach CA

In lieu of flowers consider making a donation in Andrew’s memory  to one of these charities:

Isaiah House of Orange County                                                                  St. Vincent de Paul Society

Catholic Worker                                                                                               c/o Sts. Simon & Jude Church

316 So. Cypress Ave                                                                                        20444 Magnolia Street

Santa Ana CA 92701                                                                                         Huntington Beach CA 92646

714-835-6304  www.occatholicworker.org                                           714-962-3333

Micah’s Way

1517 E. 4th Street

Santa Ana CA 92701

714-667-7110  https://www.micahsway.org

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