Cecilia T. Mafi a life long resident of Colton CA, passed away peacefully in her sleep at Arrowhead Regional incidence’s due to age, she was 80 yrs old. 

Cecilia, a true Coltonite, was born in 1941 to Anselmo B. Carrión & Magdalena Tovar Carrion.  She attended Colton schools and later called a little two bedroom house in south Colton on the property where she grew up her home for the next 80 years.

Her parents Anselmo & Magdalena natives to Carlsbad, New Mexico moved to southern CA in 1937 with their 6 older kids and settled in San Bernardino County. Four years later, Cecilia was born as the 8th child out of 11.

She always spoke about being raised in a family consisting of mainly boys, and every summer they would travel with their dad to visit his brother Daniel in Northern California to work the fields. She was taught the meaning of hard work at a young age and always lived by that principle.

As she got older she held jobs in a few different categories; she always told stories of her jobs at a diner in Buckeye AZ; Working for the airport restocking the food & beverage carts before and after every flight; A position at Toro Mfg making and assembling lawnmowers and other machinery, and even working in the concrete and brick business with her former husband and stepson.

Cecilia met Jessie Rivera of Corona California in 1964, from this union they had two daughters, after a few years they separated . In 1980 she met and married a Tongan Rugby player named Eleisa Mafi, whom she would remain married to for the next 23 years, even though they lived separately since 1994 when she stepped into the mother roll once again this time for her grandkids. Both of whom she had great friendships with after.

Cecilia was blessed with and raised three children, Anthony (Tony) Montes; Lisa Rivera & Theresa Rivera Sandoval. In her early 50’s she selflessly and voluntarily requested to have guardianship of her 3 grandchildren Cindy Montes, Elissa Gonzales & Xavier Hernandez.

She taught her kids and 3 additional kids/grandkids the same life lessons she was taught, hard work is key in life and in order to make something work, you have to get up and do it, because nothing in life is free.

She was a tough woman when she needed to be, but also knew when she needed to be caring. She always spoke her mind no matter who was around, she may never have verbally said “I Love You” but you could always tell by her actions, that she did indeed love you.

She enjoyed gardening in her little oasis, she had countless fruit trees, vegetables, rose bushes, and many many other shrubbery & plants growing, she, like her mother had a green thumb &  could make anything grow.

A few of her other hobbies were, visiting her sister in law’s in Bloomington and Rialto, as well as her sister in Colton. She enjoyed taking “trips” as she called them to the local casinos, Soboba, San Manuel & Morongo, she would spend hours there and would always complain about not wining, but would gladly go back the next time she had the itch to gamble.

She enjoyed having her great grandchildren come for a visit or go and visit them when they were in town, and enjoy the company of those that lived with her for a brief time.

She is Survived by her sister Mencha (Benjamin) Lopez of Colton. Sister-in-law Cindy (Richard 1949-2019) Carrión)

She is also survived by her children and a huge posterity as follows:

Her son Anthony “Tony” Montes of San Bernardino; Lisa N. Rivera of Illinois; Theresa Sandoval of Colton. Her 3 grandkids whom she raised Cindy Montes of San Bernardino; Eleisa Gonzales of Southern California & Xavier (Elizabeth) Hernandez of Clearfield UT.

Survived by Grandkids & their Families: 

Joseph Montes; Christina Montes & Raymond Montes; Richard (Anna) Hernandez; Angel Hernandez Jr & Felicia (Vincent) Delgado;

She is survived by her Great Grandkids: Jasmine, Jermaine, Joseph Jr, Jadine; AJ, Kevin; Raylene, Jenelle, Raymond, Davíd, Samuel, & Matthew; Jacqueline, Angel; Delilah Cecilia, Michael; Desalie, Vincent Jr; Arlene, Zamantha, Melanie; Mariiah, Audrey; Joseph Holland & Grace Cecilia.

She was preceded in death by her parents Anselmo & Magdalena Carrión; two baby siblings Teresa & Jose Manuel Carrión; Her sister Felipa (Jose) Duarte of Pomona CA, and 5 Brothers Milton,(Lupe), Frank (Sally) Pete (Maria) & Richard Carrión of Colton/Bloomington area. As well as two grandchildren Elias Marta & Jonathan Ray Montes. Former Husbands Jessie Rivera of Corona CA, & Eleisa Mafi of San Bernardino CA.

Per her wishes, she will be cremated, and there will be no services. A small celebration of life will be held by invitation only with her immediate relatives in attendance.

On behalf of Cecilia Mafi’s family, we extend our gratitude and appreciation to all the medical staff that attended her in the last month as well for any and all well wishes and condolences conveyed in person or any other means.

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