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Andrea Willhite Magana September 29, 1959 - February 4, 2021

September 29, 1959 – February 3, 2021

Andrea Willhite Magana was a deeply loved mother, wife, and friend. She will be missed beyond words and forever cherished for her warm and loving heart that fiercely loved Jesus.

Andrea Willhite was born September 29, 1959, to Bonnie and Billy Joe Willhite of Delhi, California. She grew up in Delhi and attended the Assemblies of God church where she fell in love with her Lord and Savior. Andrea loved Jesus with all of her heart and naturally wanted to share the love that she had found. In the late “˜70s, she joined a Christian mission organization called Youth With a Mission (YWAM). While in YWAM, she traveled to Mexico and inner city Los Angeles to tell others about the life-changing love of Jesus.

In YWAM, her life was changed forever when she met her husband and anchor, Joseph Magana. They were married in 1981 and a year later had their first child, Joel. Andrea and Joe began their ministry together working with Cambodian refugees in San Pedro, California. Just a few years later, they were called by the Lord to help plant a small church in Livingston, California. While Andrea and Joe were working to start a church, Andrea was blessed with her second child, her daughter Rachel.

Andrea homeschooled Joel and Rachel out of her desire to instill a wholehearted love for Jesus within her children. Her desire developed into a lifelong passion for ministering to, caring for, and educating children.  She worked for Turlock Christian Schools and in 1992 was blessed with the precious gift of Hannah, her third child. She went on to work in education for the next 28 years.

As the years passed, Joe’s health declined due to diabetes. Andrea cared for him, stood beside him, and knelt in prayer fighting for the love of her life. She was a true example of a woman of God as she spent every morning reading her Bible and praying. Andrea knew that a branch cannot live without being connected to the Vine. God’s word and a prayerful relationship with the same Jesus she fell in love with as a child are what sustained her when her husband passed away on February 5th, last year.

On Wednesday morning, February 3rd, almost a year after her husband went to be with the Lord, Andrea lost her short but intense battle with COVID-19. She is now with Jesus which is the greatest hope for those who love Him. After she passed, her children were reading her Bible and found a note which read, “If the body lives and the soul dies, what hope is there? If the body dies and the soul lives, there is hope eternal! Hope is for the living. God can restore the lost and wayward souls and redeem them to Himself. Never close the door of your heart to God, a dimly burning flame He will not quench out. It can be fanned into flame once again!” The message of Jesus is hope eternal. This is the truth she held onto in life and wanted everyone to know.

        Due to COVID-19 and the desire of her family that no one else should lose a loved one to this preventable enemy, memorial plans for Andrea will be a small private affair amongst immediate family. A zoom meeting and opportunity to share cherished memories will follow the memorial. In lieu of flowers, charitable gifts can be given to her family as they adjust to life without their mother and to help make up for her loss of income to the household. Information about the zoom meeting memorial will also be available at the go fund me update page, where donations can be made.

gf.me/u/zf4ja8

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Condolences(6)

  1. Patricia Wattles says

    I just hurd about what has happened, Debbie Cain told me about what happened. It is a very hard thing to deal with, so many years have passed, you see, my name is Patricia Wattles, Andrea was my cousin, Aunt Bonnie was my moms sister. as we were growing up, our families were very, very close but as we grew older our lives went in other direction but I have always kept them all in my heart. I have SO MANY GREAT memories of those days. aunt Bonnie and my mom were very close, I can’t count all the holidays we spent together growing up. aunt Bonnie and uncle Bill had 6 kids and my mom and dad had 5, we were all very close in age starting with the oldest on down to the youngest, Andrea was my age, Maybe some day we can meet and oh, what stories I can tell.
    ALL MY LOVE, PAT

  2. Brenda Friel says

    Dear Joel, Rachael and Hannah
    I am so incredibly sorry. I loved your mom, there was never a time she ever left me without encouraging me with a smile , giggle, word and hug. What a precious soul. I love you dear friend, rest easy with Jesus, until we meet again!

  3. Betty says

    My friend, its hard to imagine my life without you my heart is breaking but I know that we will meet again. We shared so much life together its hard to put into words. We always believed in the best for eachother ❤ and were there when we needed a friend. You always believed in me and im going to miss my prayer partner. Til we meet again friend, I love you so much!!

  4. Evie Markulis says

    A very beautiful tribute to your mom. Our hearts are breaking for you precious kids, Rachel , Hannah , and Joel & Monica. You are all in our thoughts and prayers . Your mom was such a sweetheart, and a very loving person. Please know we are all here for you, our precious family. May God put his arms around you and give you all strength and grace as you go forward. Your mom & dad are truly watching over you and are your forever Angels. They are together again in eternity.Your mom was precious and we will miss her dearly. And yes we welcome you Monica and look forward to meeting you. We love you all very much forever!God bless you all ✝️Uncle Mark & Auntue Evie Markulis & cousins.

  5. Krista Norris says

    I only had the pleasure of talking to Andrea once or twice. Her smile was beautiful and her heart for people was genuine. She was a loving woman and instilled that love in her children, all of whom are exceptional people. May her and Joe’s legacy of Christian love live on in the lives of Joel, Rachel, and Hannah.

  6. Cathy sanchez says

    Your mother’s obituary is beautiful-a God filled testimony.
    I feel so honored to call Andrea-Joe and her children-our
    Family-I promise to keep you all close to our hearts as we
    move forward in these trying times-welcome Monica Magana
    to our Familia-

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