Amparo Sandoval Bustos passed away peacefully on March 22, 2021, at her Menlo Park home. Her final home on this earth has special significance, as it was built on the site of the first home she owned in the United States, a home she bought as the fruit of her labor, and that of her children, picking fruit in the San Joaquin Valley.

Amparo was born on August 6, 1930 at "Rancho La Fábrica," near the town of Aguililla, Michoacán, Mexico, the daughter of Guadalupe Silva and Martin Sandoval. In her late teens, Amparo moved to Aguililla to live with her Aunt Concepción and in February 1950, she married Amador Palafox Bustos at the age of 19. As a young couple, Amparo and Amador moved to Las Guacamayas, Michoacán to start a coconut farm. However, after having their first child in November 1950, Amparo felt compelled to move back to Aguililla, since the farm did not yield enough crop to support their growing family.

As the years passed—and her family grew—Amparo supplemented her income by opening a beauty shop in her home. In 1960, Amparo moved herself and her six children from Aguililla to Mexico City.  By then her husband Amador, who had gone to the US years earlier to work the fields of the Salinas Valley, had secured work at the Stanford Hospital cafeteria. Together, Amador and Amparo started the process to reunite the family in California. After securing the necessary visas, Amparo and her children entered the US through El Paso, Texas. Their destination was Redwood City, where Amparo started a new chapter for herself and her family.

Although she only had a second-grade education, Amparo was the consummate entrepreneur. Without much English, she became a teacher's aide at Garfield Elementary School shortly after arriving in Redwood City. She subsequently established a licensed childcare center to boost her family's income. With this additional income and borrowed funds, she purchased rental properties to generate more income to help her children with college education and first homes.

Amparo lived life to the fullest.  She had boundless energy and always had an eye toward the future. She was the ultimate strategist and negotiator. She loved to work but she also loved to take advantage of her travel privileges on United Airlines, which she enjoyed thanks to one of her sons who worked there. With her late husband Amador, Amparo traveled and cruised the world, visiting Spain, Jerusalem, Singapore, China, Panama, and many other destinations.

In her later years, Amparo traded globetrotting for spending as much time as possible in her beloved Puerto Vallarta. There she built a strong network of long-time friends, whom she considered a second family.

Amparo thoroughly enjoyed hosting family reunions for any and all occasions. Those reunions created precious memories for her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

Amparo is survived by her seven children, their spouses and their families: Amador Jr. and Rosalie Bustos, Joel and Rosa Bustos, Salomon and Sue Bustos, Martha and Javier Perez, Humberto Bustos, Victor and Hilda Bustos, and John Bustos, as well as 20 grandchildren and 17 great-grandchildren.

The family would like to extend appreciation to Amparo's caregivers:  Maria Elena Zaragoza Hernandez and Esperanza Ramirez Esquivel.

Under strict Covid 19 protocols, Viewing will be Thursday, March 25th 4:00 to 6:00 PM at St. Pius Church at 1100 Woodside Road in Redwood City. A recitation of the Rosary will follow at 5:30 PM, a Funeral Mass will be celebrated 10:00 AM Friday, March 26th at St. Pius Church, followed by 1:15 PM Burial at Gate of Heaven Catholic Cemetery, 22555 Cristo Rey Drive in Los Altos.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in Amparo's name to the Fair Oaks Community Center - 2600 Middlefield Road, Redwood City, CA 94063