Judith A. Nardi

Judith A. Nardi was the last survivor of one of the original Baja Californian families who settled in San Diego’s Little Italy neighborhood during its fishing and cannery heyday. She passed away peacefully on October 13, 2024 at the age of 98 in Mesa, Arizona.

Born in April 1926 in her beloved San Diego, California, Judith grew up intelligent, proud, spirited, and strong despite the poverty and tragedy surrounding her during the Great Depression. Judith was the fifth—and most sickly--child of auto mechanic Pedro V. Miramontes and homemaker and cannery-worker Frances Romero. Judith’s five siblings--Roy, Siria, Armando, Louis, and Minerva—were a raucous, talented, and attractive bunch and all preceded her in death in San Diego.

Judith had great affection for Our Lady of the Rosary Church and her teachers, classmates, and friends from the original Washington School in her neighborhood. She was very proud of her Mexican heritage, enjoying summers in Tijuana where her Miramontes aunts owned businesses and property. Her years at Cathedral Girls High School were some of the happiest of her life, and she was actively involved in organizing later reunions.

Judith married Louis C. Nardi in Los Angeles in 1947. She was proud to work as the first female and Executive Secretary for WD-40 Company. She worked under one of the founders, Cy Irving, and later John Barry from the company’s infancy in 1953 until her retirement in the 1980s. She raised two children in La Mesa, California. She remained devoted to her Catholic faith for her entire life. Judith also adored reading, languages, travel, and hosting large family parties.

Judith is survived by her loving children, Christine M. Guerra (Robert) and David A. Nardi (Janice), both of Arizona. She is survived by four grandchildren Eric and Monica Suan, of New Mexico and California, Shayna Muckerheide (Ryan) of Ohio, and Celine Upton (Jon) of Arizona. She will be greatly missed by her great-grandchildren, great-great grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Judith enjoyed spoiling her grandchildren with card games, sweet desserts, Mexican food, and fun trips. In later years, they liked hearing her family stories and seeing her many photographs of loved ones.

A Funeral Mass will be held in Judith’s honor in Mesa, Arizona. A private family interment at Holy Cross Cemetery in San Diego will follow as she is laid to rest beside her beloved Grandmother Ramona Romero (nee Bareño).