- Date Of Birth: June 30, 1930
- Date Of Death: February 10, 2021
- State: Michigan
Maria “Lupe” Orta, age 90 of Kalamazoo, died with compassionate care of the staff of Alamo Nursing Home on February 10, 2021. She was born on June 30, 1930, in San Benito, Texas, the daughter of Hermenejildo and Perfecta (Garcia) Zuñiga. She received her diploma and took classes at Kalamazoo Valley Community College. For several years, she worked at the Kalamazoo County Health Department as a social worker. On November 18, 1949, Lupe married Manuel Orta Reyna, and he preceded her in death in 2017.
Lupe and Manuel owned and operated Orta’s Mexican Foods, along with P&M Auto Car Lot and Orta’s Trash Hauling. The Ortas were members of St. Joseph’s Catholic Parish in Kalamazoo. Lupe was a founding member of the Hispanic American Counsel. Her family includes her children: Juan (Gail) Orta, Jose Orta, Joel (Helen) Orta, Jesus Orta, Julian (Jona) Orta, Julie Johnson, and Juanita (Lewis) Snell; her 20 grandchildren and 27 great-grandchildren; her sisters: Yolanda (Valentine) Lopez and Eloisa Haney; and many nieces and nephews.
Lupe was preceded in death by her parents, Hermenejildo and Perfecta Zuñiga, her husband Manuel Orta, her grandson Joel Orta, Jr., her son-in-law Michael Johnson, and 10 brothers and sisters.
