Magdalena Cervantes Monarrez, 82, died peacefully with family by her side in Chapel Hill, NC, on September 17. She was born on November 14, 1943, in Durango, Mexico, to the late Francisca Rodriguez Cervantes and Angel Cervantes Meraz.

Magdalena graduated at age 16 from a teacher’s college in Durango and began teaching in elementary schools in Mexico and later in the United States. Towards the end of her career she was a "teacher of teachers," helping to prepare teachers. She had lifelong calling and passion for teaching.

She married the late Carlos Lozoya Monarrez, her beloved husband of 56 years, in 1967. They raised their family in the southeastern part of the San Gabriel Valley of Los Angeles.

While raising her children, Magdalena returned to school and earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in education from Cal Poly Pomona. She taught in the Basset Unified School District, Rowland Unified School District and Corona-Norco Unified School District. In 1992 she was named Teacher of the Year, a fact she remembered well into the later stages of living with Alzheimer's disease.

In 2004, Magdalena retired from teaching so she and Carlos could move to North Carolina to be closer to her daughter’s family and to her son’s family in Michigan.

In retirement, Magdalena enjoyed crocheting, painting and travelling to visit family and friends. Magdalena often returned to Mexico to visit family and had fond memories of traveling to Europe, South America and numerous parts of the U.S.

Magdalena is survived by her daughter Cynthia (Monarrez) Larrick, her husband, Rick, of Chapel Hill, and grandchildren Campo and Kiko; her son, Carlos, and wife, Janice, of Detroit, and granddaughters Sophie and Audrey. She is also survived by several nieces and nephew

Funeral Mass: Saturday, October 17, 2026 at 2:00 PM at Newman Catholic Community at UNC Chapel Hill, 218 Pittsboro Street, Chapel Hill, 27516.

Reception at the home of Rick and Cynthia Larrick immediately following the funeral Mass.

Interment of ashes will take place at a later date.

In lieu of flower, memorial donations may be made to Alzheimer's Association or Newman Catholic Student Center Parish.