In Loving Memory Diana Cecilia Salas Lopez passed away peacefully, surrounded by her loved ones, on April 16, 2025, at the age of 70. She was born on December 28, 1954, in Sahuaripa, Sonora, Mexico, and was the eldest child and only daughter of Cecilio and Maria Luz Salas.
At the age of 12, Diana moved with her parents and two younger brothers to El Centro, California. Not long after, the family made their home in Woodland, where Diana would plant her own roots and raise a family of three children—Alfredo Jr., Juan Carlos (Pepe), and Christina—with her beloved husband, Jose Alfredo Lopez.
Diana graduated from Woodland High School in 1973 and began her professional life in Migrant Education. She later transitioned into social work, working with Yolo County Social Services before transferring to Sacramento County Department of Human Services, where she ended her career as a supervisor. Her dedication to the field spanned 35 years, marked by compassion and an unwavering commitment to helping others.
Affectionately known as “Ceci” and “Mama Lopez,” Diana was the heart of her family. She was deeply passionate about her family and the vibrant Eclectus parrots she lovingly cared for. A gifted cook, she found joy in preparing meals for those she loved. Her culinary gifts— tamales made with her signature homemade sauce, enchiladas, hearty burritos, lasagna, pozole, and pots of beans—became family favorites and neighborhood legends.
Cooking was a tradition she cherished, one passed down from her parents and shared with her own children.
Diana also loved to dance and was never happier than when surrounded by music, family, and friends, celebrating life’s special moments. She had a green thumb and delighted in picking roses from her garden, a passion she inherited from her mother. One of her greatest joys was traveling to Mexico, her “home away from home,” where she built a peaceful sanctuary for her family—fulfilling a lifelong dream.
Her life was a testament to strength, love, and resilience.
She was a“Guerrera,” a true warrior. A Queen.
Diana is survived by her children: Alfredo, Juan Carlos, and Christina (Derrick); her grandchildren: Angel, Davian, RJ, Skyler, Del-isa, Dah-lia, and Juan Carlos Jr.; her great-grandson Mateo; her brothers: Oscar (Rachel) and Cesar Salas; and her nieces and nephew: Rachel, Mayra, and CJ Salas. She is preceded in death by her parents, Cecilio “Chapo” Salas and Maria Luz Martinez Salas, and her nephew Rudy Salas.
Services Rosary & Closed Casket Visitation: Wednesday, April 30, 2025, 6:00-8:00 PM McNary’s Chapel, 458 College St, Woodland, CA 95695 Funeral Mass: Thursday, May 1, 2025, 10:00 AM Holy Rosary Catholic Church, 575 California St, Woodland, CA 95695 Followed by burial at: Monument Hill Memorial Park, 35036 County Road 22, Woodland, CA 95695 Reception to follow: Willow Oak Park Hall, 17535 County Road 97, Woodland, CA 95695