Edith Mae Esparza, age 67, passed away peacefully in her home on Sunday August 19, 2018 surrounded by her family in San Diego, California.  Edie was born September 19, 1950 in El Paso, Texas.  She lived in Germany for 9 years between the ages of 2 and 16 while her father was stationed in the Army.

In 1967, Edie's family moved back to El Paso, Texas and as a senior in high school, she met the love of her life, Ruben Esparza.  After graduating high school, at the age of 17, they wed at St. Joseph's church in El Paso, TX on August 31st, 1968.  They began their life together and moved to San Diego in 1969 where their first son Paul Anthony was born.  Paul was welcomed to heaven the day of his birth in 1971.  In 1973 they welcomed their second son, Robert Michael and in 1976 their daughter Rebecca Michelle.

Edie's work experience included working for a construction company, a bank, and running a home daycare.  She found her true calling while working with children as a Special Education Aide at Mt. Carmel High School and as a Reading/Class Aide at Los Penasquitos and Sunset Hills Elementary.  She really enjoyed spending time with her students and helping them learn until she retired in 2001.   After helping raise their grandchildren, Edie and Ruben returned to work part-time at Sunset Hills Elementary where their granddaughter Sierra attended.  They worked as yard duties and filled their days surrounded by schoolchildren, their colleagues and friends and their granddaughter.

Edie enjoyed traveling around the United States as well as Europe.  She was very fond of Germany since she lived there for so long.  She loved spending time with her husband, children and grandchildren.  While at home, Edie enjoyed building 1,000 piece jigsaw puzzles, playing board games (Yahtzee), and hanging with her dog Maxx.  She also loved watching her soap operas, sports, Guiding Light, Wheel of Fortune and above all, Jeopardy!  She tried to answer all the questions!    She also loved spending time at the casinos and everywhere she traveled, she would find a casino.  She was loving, big-hearted, and loyal, and she was the absolute best at telling stories.

Edie fought hard and courageously for the past year and in August of 2018, she lost her battle with breast cancer.

Edie will be lovingly remembered by her husband Ruben Armando Esparza; her son Robert Michael Esparza and his girlfriend, Alicia Glee Baltutis, of San Diego, California, her daughter Rebecca Michelle Schoenwald and her husband, Scott Allan Schoenwald, of San Diego, California; her grandchildren, Isabella Samantha Esparza (12), Evan James Brown (10) and Sierra Michelle Schoenwald (11), of San Diego, California; her siblings, Patricia Manville and her husband Bill, of Colorado Springs, Colorado, her brother Freddie Payne and his wife Song, of El Paso, Texas, her brother Joseph Payne and girlfriend Diane, of Colorado Springs, Colorado, her brother James Payne, his wife Laura, of El Paso Texas; her many nieces and nephews.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend the Funeral at 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday, August 29 ^th at the Miramar National Cemetery, 5795 Nobel Drive, San Diego, CA 92122 .  There will be a Celebration of Life for Edie in October with additional details to follow.  We created a GoFundMe page to help with Edie's Celebration of Life.

In lieu of flowers please send donations in honor of Edie to the Susan G. Komen or to the American Cancer Society .