She left behind five children, 31 grandchildren and numerous great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.

Lujan who is described by everyone who knew her as a strong woman with a passion for life, was born Sept. 3, 1899, near Todos Santos, Baja California Sur, Mexico.

She came to the United States as a 20-year-old bride and lived throughout California and Arizona before settling in San Jose in 1935.

Unlucky with love, Lujan spent much of her younger years as a single parent struggling to support and raise five children though the Great Depression and World War II. She worked as a seamstress, a domestic helper and a cannery worker, all the while encouraging her children to attend school and study hard.

"She always instilled in us that we needed to go to school," says daughter Connie Karnes. "She knew education was the key to our success."

After two marriages went awry, Lujan finally met and fell in love with Francisco Lujan. The couple was married for 30 years before his death.

"She always wanted to meet a man who didn't drink or smoke, and was someone who would not get in her way when she wanted to go to church," Karnes says. "Francisco was her soul mate. He took her dancing and played guitar for her at night."

Lujan lived alone in her own home in Willow Glen until last year when, in light of her failing health, Karnes moved in with her. In spite of her physical ailments, Lujan's mind remained sharp.

According to Karnes, she recognized everyone in her huge extended family, enjoyed visiting them or entertaining them in her own home and eagerly greeted each new member as they were presented to her soon after birth.

"She loved babies," Karnes says. "She worked in the foster grandparents program until she was 85."

She also loved to crochet, a hobby she never gave up.

"She's made us all afghans over the years, and even recently, when she knew the end was near, she was hurrying to finish an afghan for my brother David," Karnes says.

Lujan never smoked or drank, but family and friends believe the secret to her longevity was her positive attitude and sense of humor. "I never saw her when she did not have a smile on her face," says longtime family friend Karen Herrington. "She was just a happy person. Whenever she saw someone she knew, her face would just light up."

Lujan also had a passion for singing and dancing.

"I remember waking up in the morning and smelling the oatmeal my mother was cooking and listening to her beautiful voice singing in the kitchen," says Karnes

On her mother's 100th birthday, she danced the evening away with her sons, Karnes says.

Having lived a full, spiritual life, Lujan was not afraid to die.

"She was a very spiritual person who prayed every morning for 15 minutes," her daughter says. "Her belief in the afterlife was so strong that she knew she was going straight to heaven."

And when the time came, she slipped quietly away.

"She used to tease me that she was going to die when I was not around," Karnes says. "I remember I was sitting next to her on the bed stroking her hair. I left the room for three minutes to tend to something in the kitchen, and wouldn't you know it, when I came back in, she was gone."

Lujan was fondly remembered at a funeral mass celebrated at St. Christopher's Parish on March 3. A poem written by her great-granddaughter Alia Bonsheff talked about the strong, deep roots put down by Lujan, and how her branches reach across the sky, giving strength and courage to everyone in her family.