Amy was born Armida Salas on May 10, 1932 in Los Angeles, California to her parents Manual
Salas and Stella "Esther". Diaz de Salas. She was raised in Los Angeles until she married at the
age of 16 to my dad, Vincent Orderica Serna. They were married for 47 years until 1993 when
our dad entered into Heaven's Gates. During their marriage they had 7 children. Vincent
Orderica Jr., Lionel Ernest Orderica, Julie Ann Cruz, Carol Lynn Serna, Suzanne Estelle Adams,
Deborah Leah Ballard and Rose Linda Higuera. Amy has 17 grandchildren and 11 great
grandchildren. She was a widow for many years and later remarried to David Poncet. David
passed away in August of 2010. Mom experienced loss at an early age losing both her younger
brother Richard (Dickie) Salas who preceded her into heaven and as well as her father. She was
lovingly raised by her step father, Lionel Lopez Sr. Amy is survived by her siblings: Arthur Salas,
Lillian Tish, Barbara Jurado, Arlene Lopez and Lionel Lopez.
Mom had many talents. She loved cooking, cake decorating and baking. She was always taking
classes when able and would have a beautifully decorated cake weekly for us to enjoy. She was
also extremely artistic and would have thrived going to Art School. She would often draw and
color with her grandkids creating detailed pictures of dolls, people and landscapes. She was
amazing! She loved Sundays when the family would go to church and then come home to share a
meal. She was a fabulous cook and was always very adventurous trying different recipes. Her
highlight of the week was CHURCH and her family get togethers. No matter how many of us
showed up on Sundays there was always plenty of food and a wonderful time was had by
everyone. Mom understood that EVERYDAY was a gift from GOD and was to be celebrated.
Mom was full of joy and laughter.... she made a conscious choice daily, always choosing to be
happy.
There were many life changing moments in my Mom's life. The most impactful was the
following event which occurred in 1959 shortly after the birth of my sister Carol. At the time our
dad was building a house in Tijuana. During construction we lived in a trailer on the property
while mom recuperated. Mom had several complications after her delivery being so serious that
every doctor she'd seen sent her home to die. They told her there was no hope for her to recover
and they sent her home to live out her final days with her family. Our mom was a 26 year old
mother with 4 young children.
When mom was a little girl she attended a Baptist Church and had been taught and had
knowledge of God, along with the faith that God could perform miracles. A miracle is exactly
what she needed. I was only 2 years old at the time but I remember it as if it was yesterday. She
was so weak that even holding a glass of water was an impossible task for her. Across the street
from our home was a Spanish speaking church and on that particular day they were having a
baptism.
My mom got up, got dressed and walked across the street with me following behind her. Leaving
my dad behind wondering what the heck she was up to??? She asked the minister TO BAPTIZE
HER..."NO, she TOLD the minister to baptize her. He began telling her why he couldn't do it
and she boldly responded with:" I'm getting baptized today and you're going to do it!" ...The
minister then obliged her. Before being baptized my mom made God a promise. She told GOD
that if HE healed her she would serve him for the rest of her days. When mom came up from the
that baptismal , she became a NEW PERSON. Mom had an encounter with Jesus that changed
the trajectory of her life and those she loved and would one day love. Not only was she
MIRACULOUSLY healed physically, GOD also healed her spiritually. From that day forward
she has honored her VOW and has faithfully followed, served and lived her life for JESUS. GOD
granted her an additional 60 years on this earth from that moment.
Much has happened in those 60 years for GOD'S eternal kingdom. Mom started attending
church, the only problem was that our dad opposed her going to church and getting involved in
this "Religion" thing. Little did he know that it had nothing to do with religion but with a REAL
RELATIONSHIP with JESUS. At the time dad had a deep addiction to alcohol and all the
destructive things that come with addictions. My mom had to sneak out to go to church. She'd
pray that my dad would fall and stay asleep until she returned home from church. At church
should ask EVERYONE , even strangers to pray that dad would come to know Jesus. God
answered her prayers!!! When dad surrendered his life and will to Christ, God performed an
incredible transformation in his heart and life. He instantly was healed from alcohol, cigarettes
and all the craziness that comes with that lifestyle.
Mom taught Sunday School, Missionettes and her and dad planted 2 small churches in Tijuana.
They fed, clothed and reached out to the poor and needy. They took in numerous kids that
needed a place to stay. One year, there was a young mother with 3 children under the age of 5.
She asked mom if she could watch them for a few days. Well, a few days turned into over a year.
During this time we had no way of getting in contact with the young mother. Mom and dad also
took in the elderly; visiting convalescent homes, hospitals and jails to minister and share Jesus
with the sick, lonely and forsaken. As I reflect back to that moment in 1959 when she was
baptized and gave her life to Christ, this event changed the course of our family's history
mentally, physically, spiritually but most importantly ETERNALLY. You see, because of this lady
whom we as a family have the privilege of calling "MOM" or "Mama Amy" we were able to live
a life loving GOD; not void of struggles and pain but built on a Legacy of Faith. Hebrews 11:1
Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. When you
have a relationship with Jesus you know without a doubt that your steps have been ordered by the
Lord and that your eternal future is secure in HIM.... the creator of the universe, the author and
finisher of our faith. Because of mom's encounter with Jesus, her commitment to GOD, her
examples of living by faith, following GOD's word and his precepts, being a PRAYER
WARRIOR....mom has altered our family's history for eternity. Mom, we are so grateful for your
life of gentleness, joy, faithfulness, prayer and genuine LOVE. We know, that heaven celebrated
your homecoming and you are FINALLY HOME.