Resident of San Lorenzo

Sotera Vasquez Brown passed peacefully at home on January 26. She was preceded in death by her husband Fred Brown and later-in-life companion Denny Margie.

She is survived by daughters Elena Brown Summers and Celia Brown Moreton and seven grandchildren and twelve great grandchildren.

Sotera was born a Purepecha (also known as Tarascan) Indian in the mountains of Michoacán, Mexico. As a child she moved with her family to Nuevo Laredo on the Mexican-American border where, as a young woman, she married Fred, moved to California, and started her family.

While raising her family and working numerous jobs, she pursued her education, eventually earning a Business in Administration Degree from Cal State Hayward at age 57. While pursuing her college degree, she founded Family Tutorial Services (later becoming Spectrum Community Services), a nonprofit providing English classes and job training for ESL members of the community, and meal services to seniors.

A truly remarkable woman, her strength, generosity and unfailing good nature, set an example for all of her family, and left a lasting impact on the community.

Funeral and memorial service will be held at 11amon Monday February 3, Lone Tree Cemetery, 24591 Fairview Avenue, Hayward, CA 94542.