Elizabeth Padilla, a beloved mother, sister, and friend, passed away peacefully on November 9, 2024 in Bakersfield, California at the age of 56, after a long and hard battle against cancer.

Elizabeth is survived by her daughter, Kimberly Ganchenko (her husband, Phillip Ganchenko); her son, Adrian Ruiz-Padilla; and many close friends and family.

Elizabeth was born on October 4, 1968, and is the daughter of Manuel and Estela Padilla. She was born and raised in Mexicali, B.C. till she was 16 years old, when her parents decided to move them and their whole family to the United States. Eventually, they made their way to Bakersfield, California, where they stayed and planted their roots.

Elizabeth was a beacon of strength and independence, qualities that fueled her personal and professional life. Her academic pursuit later in life exemplifies her determination, as she returned to school to get her degree in medical assisting. With this achievement, she dedicated her life to serving others, first with the County of Health for many years, to later as Senior Quality Improvement Coordinator at Kern Health System, a role that defined her passion and commitment to the lives of those around her.

Her children remember her as a strong, kind, loving, caring and hard working mother who always encouraged them to pursue their dreams and to not let anyone stop them.

Elizabeth was passionate about many things, but her main loves were plants, knitting, crocheting, and sewing. Just like her father, she developed a green thumb and began tending and growing plants. Her friends and family will always remember how her living room looked like a jungle with the amount of plants she had cared for. Her son will never forget the many times he would take her to plant nurseries and she would spend hours talking to him about plants and teaching him how to take care of them. Her knitting, crocheting and sewing passion came from her mother. Like her, she knitted or crocheted scarves and blankets. Her daughter will never forget the time she crocheted 25 scarves for her first year students for Christmas, and even bought them beanies and gloves and wrapped them so her students would have a Christmas present to open.

She was loved by all her close friends and family, and she will be missed by those who knew her.

The Celebration of Life is scheduled for November 23, 2024 at 3pm at 9532 Laurel Ridge Lane in Shafter, California 93263. A reception will follow shortly after the service where we will be enjoying several of her favorite sweets and desserts. Close family and friends are welcome to attend and celebrate Elizabeth's life. Flowers and condolences can be sent to 3901 Q Street Apt 13A, Bakersfield, California, 93301.

Her children would like to thank those who came to help care for their mother. They would like to thank Elizabeth's sisters, Edith Muralles, Maria Farkus, and Rosa Okuma; her nieces, Jessica and Maggie Ruiz; her caretakers, Joanne and Roy; her daughter's friends, Allison and Lee Brodoway; her friends, Gigi, Kristina, Adriana and Martha; and anyone else who came to pray and care for her. Her children just wanted to thank them so much for loving and caring for their mother. Her daughter would also like to thank her brother who became the primary caretaker for their mother and made it his mission to make sure their mother was well taken care of. There are just no words to express how incredibly thankful she is for her brother, and she knows that their mother was proud of the man he had become.