Recitation of the Holy Rosary was held at Peters Funeral Home for Monica Samanta Padilla, age 15, on Monday, November 20, 2006, at 6pm. A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on Tuesday, November 21, 2006, at 10am, at St. Therese's Catholic Church. Father Pedro Umana of St. Therese's Church officiated. Interment followed at Shafter Memorial Park. Monica was born in Mexico to Salvador and Francisca Padilla. She came to Shafter in 2001. She was a student at Shafter High School; she was on the schools' soccer team. She enjoyed being with her family and friends. Monica was a bright and well liked student, and a greatly loved daughter and niece. Monica was preceded in death by her grandfather, Arnoldo Ruiz. She is survived by her parents, Salvador and Francisca; grandmother, Calletana Felix; brother, Edgar Ruiz all of Mexico; sister, Erika Ruiz of Bakersfield; nephew, Esteban Puga; aunts, Olga Torrez and Blanca Barriga; and many other loving aunts, uncles and cousins.