El Camino High School instructor Ann-Marie Mesquita was remembered as a dedicated teacher and a genuinely nice person by family, friends, colleagues and students this past weekend at St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery.

Mesquita, who taught Spanish at El Camino for 18 years, passed away on Oct. 25 from injuries sustained in a fall.

French teacher Joyce Bernhoft, who taught alongside Mesquita in the foreign language department for 15 years, said Saturday she will remember her "as a very happy and dedicated teacher."

Bernhoft said they shared neighboring classrooms and would always exchange "Holas" or "Bonjours." 

"It was always 'hola, hola' at the front doors," she said.

Ed Santillanes, who teaches English and radio television at El Camino, knew Mesquita as a parent when his daughter took her class, a fellow teacher and a student.

"She was the one truly nice person I knew," Santillanes said. "One year I took her class during my prep."

He was treated just like any other student and did all the homework and projects. 

"I asked her. She was kind enough to do it," he said.

El Camino principal Jill Spears said students at the high school initiated a vigil the night after she died, attended by about 200 students.

"I just remember the love she gave her students," Spears said. "They felt safe with her."

Mesquita's family shared their memories as well.

"My sister had a real genuine impact on her students," said Mario Mesquita, Ann-Marie’s brother. "She really touched their lives in a way most people don’t."

"She was a kind, sweet person, who really deeply cared about the people she came in contact with."

Mesquita’s husband, Roberto, estimates she taught about 3,000 students over the course of 22 years teaching.

"It never failed that when we were out, someone would come and give her a hug," Roberto said. "She would remember them, all her students."

Frances Mesquita, Anne-Marie's mother, recalled her daughter as a kind person.

"She always was nice to people," Frances Mesquita said. "I never heard her say anything negative about anyone. The kids really cared about her."

Four students spoke at a service Saturday. A few students also spoke at a funeral service Friday at the George L. Klumpp Chapel of Flowers.

"She would always push you to do more," said former student Gibram Cota, who spoke at Saturday’s service. "She had hope even if everybody else said you weren’t going to make it."

At the end of the committal service, Mesquita's casket was placed in its final resting place.

Ann-Marie Mesquita is survived by her husband, Roberto, her parents William and Frances Mesquita, and her brother Mario Mesquita.

Mesquita was born March 30, 1965 in Reno, Nev., according to an obituary that ran in The Sacramento Bee. She attended McClatchy High School and graduated from the University of California, Davis, obtained a teaching credential and master's degree from California State University, Sacramento and attended a language institute in Monterey.

At El Camino, Mesquita was the advisor to the Spanish Club, organized cultural events and taught various levels of Spanish, including Advanced Placement classes.

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