Commentary: Community advocate shared her strong spirit on a number of causes

Memorial service set for Feb. 5 for Avie Guerra

By Frank X. Moraga / Amigos805

It was with much sadness that we learned this week of the passing of Marie Avelina Guerra.

“Avie,” as we all knew her, was a strong community advocate who battled a stroke and finally succumbed to cancer on Jan. 27.

Over the years she had served as a university counselor, worked with a number of community groups in Oxnard, including the Citizen’s Advisory Board, and was a visible face in the community where she attended numerous community events or sent out her regular community information e-mail blasts.

According to her obituary published this week in the Ventura County Star, Avie was born in Oxnard in 1947, and graduated from Santa Clara High School in Oxnard and San Fernando Valley State College, what would eventually be known as California State University, Northridge.

“Much of Avie’s life revolved around community service, education and standing up for what she believed,” according to the obituary. “Known for always speaking her mind, Avie used this skill to guide hundreds of students on their educational path as a counselor at Cal State University Northridge for 23 years.”

Following her retirement, Avie worked at various community service organizations until 2007. However, education was still a key part of her life and so Avie then began working on a Master’s Degree in Chicano Studies.

Besides spending time with her friends, Avie also enjoyed listening to music, swimming in the ocean and cheering for her favorite team, the Lakers.

Avie is survived by her son, Robert Guerra and his wife Laura of Santa Paula; three daughters, Tina DeCoste and her husband Steve of Camarillo, Chelly Guerra and Joe Fournell of Newbury Park, Alicia Guerra of Newbury Park and Ana Guerra of Oxnard; and five grandchildren, Jasmin, Joey, Aidan, Macen and Giselle. She was preceded in death by her son Camilo.

A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 5 at Padre Serra Church, 5205 Upland Road, Camarillo. All friends and family are invited to attend.

In lieu of flowers, the community is asked to make a donation to the Inlakech Cultural Arts Center, Oxnard (www.inlakech.org) or to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society in memory of Camilo Guerra.

Avie often included this quote from an anonymous author in her e-mails:

“Good friends are like stars……You don’t always see them, but you know they are always there.”

Thanks Avie for being such a good friend.