Juana B. Dominguez

Juana is the oldest of nine other siblings. She had an incredible life and conquered all obstacles. She was a hard-working and determined woman with lots of ambition to make her life better.

In 1947 Juana met Antonio in Las Cruces, N.M., and they were married in 1950 — and stayed married for 46 years. They had 15 children: Celia, Luis, Joe, Al, Virginia, Gonzalo, Gracy, Rosemary and Lena, Carmen, Antonio, Rey, Fred, Maggie and Christy, and adopted two more, Maria and Cruz.

In 1963 the family was admitted to the United States; they took the family to Blythe Calif.; there Juana worked in a tortilla factory and that is where the idea of one day owning her own tortilla factory began.

In 1967 Antonio and Juana packed up and came to Hood River Valley, with all 14 children in their blue 1959 station wagon. They arrived in the Mount Hood community in August.

With 14 kids and no place to live, they made Dimmick Park their home. Sleeping in the car and under the stars in the orchard, it was a hardship for Juana and Antonio but the children thought it was fun.

Eventually they were able to locate a cabin owned by Frank Hood and then eventually were able to find a bigger house, owned by Bill Vollmer, on Trout Creek Ridge.

In 1977 her dream of one day opening a tortilla factory became a reality for Juana. There wasn’t much discussion on what to call the product as they quickly decided on “Juanita’s Tortilla’s” and the company is still going strong after 37 years.

You could see in her eyes how proud she was when she told doctors and nurses that she was the “Juanita” and she had every right to be proud — as we are very proud — of her accomplishments and thankful for her dream.

Juana’s interests were gardening, knitting, sewing, cooking, camping and jigsaw puzzles. What she loved the most were family gatherings — especially Christmas, when she would make tons of tamales — and trips to the Oregon Coast and the casinos.

She is a grandmother to 43 grandchildren and 29 great-grandchildren.

She told us that her most valuable treasure is her family, which she loves very much and says she is going to miss the most! She touched many lives and will live on forever in our hearts.

Arrangements are under the direction of Anderson’s Tribute Center (Funerals, Receptions, Cremations), 1401 Belmont Ave., Hood River, OR 97031; 541-386-1000. Please visit andersonstributecenter.com to leave a note of condolence for family