In Loving Memory of Evelia Andrade Varela
Ventura, California
With profound sadness and heavy hearts, we announce the passing of our beloved mother and grandmother, Evelia Andrade Varela. She departed peacefully on August 25, 2025, in Santa Barbara, California, after a fight with cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA). On that day, she went home to be with the Lord, surrounded by love.
Evelia was born on September 6, 1947, in Guanajuato, Mexico, to Jose and Josefina Varela. She was the seventh of eleven children, raised in a home full of resilience and devotion. At the age of 13, she immigrated to the United States—a courageous step that shaped the rest of her life. One of her proudest achievements was becoming a U.S. citizen, a milestone that symbolized her strength and determination.
She dedicated much of her career to caregiving at the Ventura Townehouse, where her compassion and warmth touched many lives. But Evelia’s greatest joy was her family. She spent most of her life in Ventura County, and in her later years, Santa Barbara County. Her love for her children and grandchildren knew no bounds—she was fiercely protective, endlessly nurturing, and ever present.
Evelia was a vibrant soul: loving, strong, and delightfully feisty. She was known for her avid gardening skills and passion for flowers, she could revive any ailing plant or take the smallest piece of a succulent and grow it into something beautiful. She was also known for her incredible cooking, always eager to prepare a favorite dish for a celebration or to comfort someone who was unwell. Her home was a sanctuary of comfort and love, where the scent of food made from scratch at the crack of dawn that morning and perfectly manicured flowers filled the air, a place where any wound could be healed with her immense love and just a bit of magic.
She is survived by her children: Rosalinda “Rosie” Ornelas, Irene Ornelas (Chris), and Richard Ornelas (Christina), Pedro Ornelas, father of her children; and her cherished grandchildren: Victoria Ellis, Andrew Bonds, Gabriel Gettman, Gavin Gettman, Lucas Ornelas, Lorenzo Ornelas, and Lariana Ornelas. She also leaves behind many loving siblings, nieces, nephews, and cousins from the Varela family.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Jose and Josefina Varela; her brothers Wenceslao, Flavio, and Jesus Varela; and her sisters Sara Varela and Maria Elena Varela Barroso.
• Flowers can be delivered to Joseph P. Reardon Funeral Home – 757 E. Main Street, Ventura, CA 93001, memorial donations may be made to Serenity House at 930 Miramonte Drive, Santa Barbara, CA 93109 or online at vna.health. The family extends heartfelt gratitude to the compassionate doctors, nurses, and staff of Cottage Hospital, Sansum Sutter, Valley Haven, Mission Park, and especially Serenity House for their exceptional care.
Services to Honor Evelia’s Life
• Rosary Vigil: Friday, September 5, 2025, from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM (Rosary at 6:00 PM)
Joseph P. Reardon Funeral Home – 757 E. Main Street, Ventura, CA 93001
• Funeral Mass: Saturday, September 6, 2025 at 1:00pm
Padre Serra Parish – 5205 Upland Road, Camarillo, CA 93012
• Graveside Service & Reception: Immediately following the Mass
Conejo Mountain Memorial Park – 2052 Howard Road, Camarillo, CA 93012
Arrangements are under the care of Joseph P. Reardon Funeral Home & Cremation Service. 757 E. Main Street, Ventura.