Irma Cen Patron

Maria Irma del Socorro Cen y Lugo, lovingly known as Irma by her family , was born on November 27, 1931 in Merida,Yucatán, Mexico.

In December 1956, she married Jose Luis Patron and they moved to San Diego. In September of 1963 the couple joyfully welcomed their first and only child, Richard Luis.

One day, as was her custom, she almost slammed the door on visiting witnesses , but stopped when she saw a small boy who reminded her of her own son. The tract he held out to her about the Trinity grabbed her interest. She had questioned this very belief and was excommunicated from the Catholic church. She started a study soon after and never left Jehovah from that day forward.

Jose Luis got a job in Los Angeles, so the family relocated to Rosemead. Irma began working at a drive-in theater, and continued her studies with Maria Elena Bordier. Her spiritual progress moved her to formally dedicate her life to Jehovah and get baptized at the Lemert Park Assembly Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses. She fell in love with Jehovah and became well-versed in the Scriptures, able to quote a multitude of scriptures from memory.

Irma’s love and zeal for Jehovah moved her to begin full time service in 1980 along with her son Richard. Together, they enjoyed the wonderful privilege of attending Pioneer Service School. Irma always set a fine example in her zealousness as she conducted multiple studies at a time. She was determined to share her love for her God with others.

When her health began to decline, the friends from her congregation would always pick her up for meeting and field service. Like Ana , Irma was determined to be “never missing from the temple” (Luke 2:37) and made great effort to attend in person as much as she could.
As her memory faded , she continued to regularly attend meetings on Zoom. Irma kept on making an effort to participate, even if it was just singing to her God.

We are comforted in the knowledge that she is in Jehovah’s loving memory. It makes our hearts rejoice to know that the next voice that she will hear is Jesus calling her out of her memorial tomb to a resurrection of life. (John 5:28, 29a)

Irma is survived by her son Richard and his wife Deneen. Her beloved grandchildren, Adrian, Casandra, Reuben and his wife Amber, and Jazmin and her husband Joshua . She is also survived by her great grandchildren, Taryn, Gavin, Levi, and Zion, all of whom she cherished deeply and strived to set a good spiritual example for.

Standing at 4‘7“, Irma embodied the strength of her faith. She was tiny, but mighty. Her unwavering belief, courage, and love, accompanied by her significant sacrifices, will always be remembered, and inspire those who knew her to love Jehovah just as she did. (Psalm 71:18)