Monica "Mona" Padilla

If you had the pleasure of meeting Mona you would probably agree she was the most loving, caring and fun person you've met. As someone once said, "She was a giant ball of light that would illuminate every area she moved to." Mona Padilla passed away March 22, 2023, at the age of 45, in Shafter.

Monica Teresa Aguilar was born Feb.2, 1978, in Bakersfield, to Carlos Aguilar and Esther Rodriguez. Mona graduated Shafter High School in 1996 and later went on to attend several technical training schools. I met Mona in high school, and we officially began dating on Sept. 18, 1993 – she was my high school sweetheart. We watched each other grow up from young adults, and adults into parents. I was blessed with 32 amazing years of insanely fun memories with my wife and three children. There was never a shortage of gut-wrenching laughter with Mona in our lives.

Mona was loved by everyone she met. But for those who had the pleasure of knowing Mona on a personal level, they knew that she truly was one of a kind. Her sense of humor and outgoing personality has left a lifelong impression on everyone who knew her personally and it can never be forgotten.

She was selfless with her care at times when those in her life needed it most. She was never short on love, laughs and generosity. To me and my children, she was known as "Mama Teacher." She was always teaching us how to have fun, to love, to help those in need, and to not take yourself or life too seriously. She had the gift of taking a bad or difficult moment in our lives and turning it into a light hearted moment by making us laugh with one of her famous sayings or funny nicknames.

If you knew her well, you were lucky to have been given a nickname and I'm sure you are smiling right now. And without question our absolute favorite saying she would say, "Quallate Travolta" instead of "Callate La Boca." How she came up with that; she somehow mixed in John Travolta's last name because she didn't speak Spanish and it sounded closest to the word. My goodness, as I write this I laugh, baby, you will be missed from now till the end of time. We love you.

Mona is survived by her husband John Padilla and three children, Priscilla Padilla, Isaac Padilla, and Roman Padilla; Mother Esther Carrasco, Father Carlos Aguilar and Step-Father Roger Carrasco; and seven siblings, Mark Rodriguez wife Virginia Rodriguez, Dina Aguilar, Michael Carrasco, Mathew Carrasco, Myra Valenzuela, Vicente Aguilar and Checo Aguilar, as well as, many cousins, nieces, nephews, uncles, aunts and countless friends.

Services will be held Thursday, April 20, at Basham & Lara Funeral Care, 343 State Ave. from 12 p.m. to 1:45 p.m. Graveside services will follow at Shafter Cemetery at 2 p.m. A reception will be held in Shafter at the First Southern Baptist Church at 250 Kern St.