Serna, Josefa L.

Biographical Note

[The following biographical information was written by Laura Serna, Josefa's granddaughter.]

Josefa L. Serna was born Maria Josefa Luna Reyes on March 19, 1911 in Torreón, Coahuila. At the time of her birth her mother, Delfina Reyes García and her father Francisco Luna already had four sons: Alfonso, Arturo, Rogelio, and Adrian. In 1917 the youngest, Ana Maria, completed the family. As the Mexican Revolution came to a close, the family, like many others, sought new opportunities in the United States. Her brothers Alfonso and Arturo journeyed from Coahuila to Los Angeles, where they had relatives. Arturo took a job with the Santa Fe Railroad and soon had enough money to send for the rest of the family. In 1922 Josefa, her mother, and other siblings took the train through El Paso to join her brothers in Los Angeles, a trip she remembered vividly. In Los Angeles, Josefa attended school and helped her mother take care of the house and her siblings.

In the late 1920s, Josefa met Teodoro Serna, a native of Zacatecas, Mexico. They married in 1929 at Nuestra Señora de la Soledad Church on Brooklyn Avenue in East Los Angeles and set up house on Ditman Street. Their oldest son Ignacio was born in August of 1930. A baby girl, Veronica, was born in 1932. Sisters Rita and Carmen followed in 1934 and 1935. The family moved to 4th Street, where her youngest son José Diego was born in 1943. Josefa spent her days caring for her children, keeping house, working as a sales clerk, and socializing with neighbors and the families of her brothers and sisters. As each of her children married and started their own families, she welcomed each of her many grandchildren with joy.

Josefa worked for many years as a sales clerk at the 1st Street Store and later at a clothing store, The Sunny Shop, on the same street. She herself was a very good seamstress and loved to embroider and crochet. She made blankets, sweaters, and booties for the family's many new babies and she created many of the fashionable dresses that she, always impeccably dressed, wore. In 1961 Josefa became a naturalized U.S. citizen. Her co-workers and neighbors wrote notes of congratulations in a small red autograph book that she would keep for the rest of her life.

She and Teodoro moved to the house on Cesar Chavez Avenue (formerly Brooklyn) in 1962. There the family gathered regularly to celebrate birthdays, holidays, and just visit. It was in that house that she raised her granddaughter Adrianne Serna and her great grandson Michael Serna. In 1982 Teodoro, Josefa's "Lolo," passed away. Josefa continued to travel with her church--she particularly liked to visit Lake Tahoe and Las Vegas--walked all over town to run her errands, and hopped on the bus to visit her grandchildren and great grandchildren. She was a regular parishioner of Nuestra Señora de la Soledad and kept in contact with extended family in El Paso-Ciudad Juárez, Tijuana, and Durango.

Josefa Serna, as described by her family, was a modest woman, devoted to her family, and firm in her religious convictions. She took pride in the successes of her loved ones and offered shelter when times were rough. She prayed constantly for her children and grandchildren's happiness, health, and safety. Josefa lost her son, Ignacio, who passed away in 1982, and her daughter Carmen, who passed away in May of 2007. Josefa Serna passed away in 2007 at the age of 96. She is survived by her daughters, Veronica and Rita, her son Diego, twenty-one grandchildren, fifty-one great-grandchildren, and over forty great-great grandchildren.

From the guide to the Josefa L. Serna papers, 1910-2007, (USC Libraries Special Collections)