Obituary: Maggie Mata

For The Madera Tribune

Maggie Mata.

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Maggie Mata, 87, of Las Vegas, Nevada, passed away peacefully on Nov. 19, 2025, in Las Vegas, Nevada, after a long and courageous battle with Alzheimer's disease. Born on July, 30, 1938, in Madera, California, to Thomas and Grace Medellin.

Maggie met and married Gilbert Mata on June 19, 1952. They had three children: Gilbert (Dinky), Kenneth (Kenny), and Diana. Several years after the birth of their third child, the family moved to the San Francisco Bay Area where they settled down to raise their children in Union City, California.

Maggie was a hard worker in the manufacturing industry and later started her own business in child day care. She moved to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1992, to live and work in the casino industry and child care (nanny) for 35 years, before she was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease.

Maggie enjoyed having family visit her in Las Vegas where she would show them the strip and take in a show, after they would come home where she would make her famous hard shell tacos, enough to feed an army.

She is preceded in death by her son Kenneth (Kenny) and husband Gilbert. She is survived by her son Gilbert (Dinky) and daughter Diana. She leaves behind two daughter's in-law, Gloria and Yolanda, 6 grand children, 9 great grand children and 2 great great grand children, along with her brother Thomas Medellin and wife Eva and many other dear family and friends, who will miss her dearly.

A grave site burial service will be held at the Calvary cemetery 28447 Ave. 14, in Madera, California, on Feb. 3, 2026, at Noon. Reception to follow at the Vineyard restaurant in Madera, California (adults only please).