Betty Carmen (Tafoya) Contreras 1933-2025 

(WHS Principal's secretary from 1964 to 1997)

Betty Contreras passed away peacefully, with family at her side, on April 22, 2025 at the age of 91. She was born in Yolo, CA, on December 10, 1933 to Louis and Carmen Tafoya. Betty lost her mother at the early age of 8 and quickly became the organized leader we all know, helping her father look after the family. She was a proud graduate of Woodland High School’s class of 1950, where she would eventually meet the man of her dreams, Louie Contreras. She worked at a very young age to support the family. First at the Yolo Theatre, then for the Woodland School District before settling in as WHS’s Secretary to the Principal. A role she held for 33 years (1964 to 1997).

She and Louie started dating in high school and in 1951 they eloped. They started a family after Louie served 2 years in the service. First Jim, then Kathi and eventually Jerry. She attended many of her children’s school events and sports activities. She was rarely without her camera and often called herself “The Historian”. When the nest emptied, she continued staying active, often attending her grandchildren Philip, Nick and Bayli’s games and school events. Then again when great grandchildren Damien, Bryson, and Mason were born. Her spirits were noticeably lifted, in the last 18 months of her life, when great granddaughter Sophia was born.

Our mother and father rarely did anything apart. They attended many sporting events and could often be spotted at live music events in the late hours of the evening. She was very close to her father and enjoyed spending time with him and her siblings, as well as her “lunch bunch” groups. When Louie was diagnosed with cancer, she took charge, making sure our father was at every appointment. She gave all her time and energy to the last moments of our father’s life. When he passed, she was exhausted. Her spirits were revived when her granddaughter Bayli moved in for just over a year, then again when Bayli presented mom with great granddaughter Sophia. In the end, she will be remembered as an unselfish giver. Always thinking of others before herself. She passed as quietly and peacefully as you could ask for. A truly beautiful ending to a beautiful life.

She is survived by her daughter Kathi Contreras (Augie), son Gerald Contreras (Nicole), grandchildren Nick Miller (Christie), Bayli Miller (Cesar), great grandchildren Damien Bresci, Bryson Miller, Mason Miller, and Sophia Zermeno, brothers David Saucedo (Bonnie), Joe Tafoya (Grace), and John Tafoya (Karen), sisters Vera Cavazos, Yolanda Cital, Mary Ellen Tafoya, Christina Jones (Mike), Rita Cocke (Mark), and Rachel Lopez. She is preceded in death by her husband Louie Contreras, son James Contreras, grandson Philip Bresci, parents Louis and Carmen Tafoya, stepmother Manuela Tafoya, brothers Jose Moises Zaragoza, Richard Tafoya, and Alfonso Montoya, and mother-in-law Refugio Contreras.

A viewing will be held at McNary’s Chapel on Thursday May 8th from 1pm-2pm. A Rosary will be held after the viewing at 2:30pm also at McNary’s Chapel (458 College Street, Woodland, CA 95695)

A Catholic Mass will be held at 12 noon on Friday May 9th at the Holy Rosary Catholic Church located at 575 California Street, Woodland, CA 95695. A burial at Monument Hill Memorial Park (35036 County Rd 22, Woodland, CA) will immediately follow the mass. A celebration of life will immediately follow the burial at the Hotel Woodland (436 Main Street, Woodland, CA). Donations can be made to the Holy Rosary Church in Woodland and/or Yolo Hospice in Davis.