Obituary of Della Rico, 84
– Della Rico was born on September 14, 1941, in Tulare, California, to Ramona and Frank Marquez. She was the oldest of six children, with three sisters and two brothers. She attended high school in Laton, California.
In 1963, she attended beauty school, where she met the love of her life, Mike Rico. They were married in December 1964 and shared 61 devoted years together. Their marriage was a beautiful example of loyalty, faith, and enduring love.
Della was baptized as one of Jehovah’s Witnesses in July 1971, alongside her husband Mike and approximately ten other family members. She loved attending the Kingdom Hall and sharing her faith with others. Her devotion to Jehovah was an important part of her life, and she found great joy in teaching and encouraging others.
She and Mike lived in Riverdale, California, for 17 years, where she was a loving and dedicated stay-at-home mother. In 1986, they moved to Paso Robles, where she lived for the remainder of her life.
Della loved to shop and took great pride in keeping her home “just so.” Her house was always clean, welcoming, and thoughtfully kept. She was easygoing, never moody, and had a fun, lighthearted sense of humor. She had a charming way of getting her phrases mixed up, which often brought laughter to those around her. She had a gentle presence that made everyone feel comfortable and at ease. Her greatest joy was spending time with her children and grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her mother, Ramona Marquez; her father, Frank Marquez; and her brother, Alfred Marquez.
She is survived by her husband, Mike Rico; her daughters, Annette Brown (Daron) and Rochelle Tyler (Dave); her grandchildren, Jordan, James, Jason, Josselynn, Nicole, Rebecca, and Katie; bonus grandchildren Devon, Noveni, and Davian; and great-grandchildren Madyson, Kylee, and Caleb, along with ten bonus great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her sisters, Jolanda Lempel, Norma Aguilar, and Mona Manquero; and her brother, Richard Marquez. She is also survived by her sister-in-law Rebecca Moore (John) and many nieces and nephews.
After a period of illness in her final years, Della passed peacefully at home on February 19, 2026, surrounded by her family.
As expressed at Revelation 21:4,
“And he will wipe out every tear from their eyes, and death will be no more, neither will mourning nor outcry nor pain is any more, the former things have passed away.
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