Church and graveside services for Cheryl J. Arriaga, 51, of Exeter were held on June 18 and 19 at Trinity Lutheran Church of Exeter and Wasco Memorial Park in Wasco.
She died in the presence of family at her home on June 16 in Exeter. She battled cancer valiantly for three years and sought strength through her family and faith.
Cheryl Jean Long Arriaga, a loving daughter, sister, wife, mother, and grandmother was born Nov. 2, 1952 in Enid, Okla.
She worked for Standard Register in Hanford and Porterville for 18 years, during that time she pursued her life long dream of working with children by attending school in the evenings to earn her bachelor's degree in counseling.
She served the students of Corcoran High School as a counselor while she continued her studies and earned a master's degree from Fresno Pacific in psychology.
She would then go to serve the students of the Visalia Unified School District as a school psychologist. She was committed to her work; she was proud and humbled that she could make a difference in the lives of children.
She was an avid horse lover. In her spare time, she trained and competed in Western and English riding.
She began dabbling in training her new mare and recently received the exciting news that her mare is with foal. The foal will ensure that her legacy will continue, as her grandchild has inherited her love for horses.
She is survived by her husband of 31 years, Jess Arriaga of Exeter; daughter, Shelley Garcia of Vacaville; sons, Brett Arriaga of Sacramento and Ryan Arriaga of Exeter; grandson, Jesse-Diego Garcia of Vacaville; parents, Raymond and Geraldene Long of Wasco; brothers, Kenneth Long of Turlock, and Allan Long of Bakersfield; and sister, Connie Klingenberg of Bakersfield. She will be greatly missed by all who know and love her.
Remembrances may be made to the American Cancer Society, 211 N. Encina, Visalia, CA 93291. Arrangements were under the direction of Evans-Miller Exeter Chapel.
