Elna K. Diedrich; Former Oxnard Farmer

Elna Katherine Diedrich of Oxnard, a homemaker, died Friday at a local hospital following a lengthy illness. She was 80.

Diedrich was born Sept. 27, 1916, in Chino, and came to Oxnard as an infant when her parents, Carl and Ellen Olin, moved to the area to help build the original American Crystal Sugar Co. factory in the southeast part of the city.

She attended school in Oxnard and on Jan. 15, 1941, married Alvin Diedrich, who farmed a ranch purchased in 1906 by his grandfather. They grew lemons, oranges and row crops. The site is now occupied by PriceCostco, said Alvin Diedrich, 84.

“I had a bad accident at the ranch in 1946, and they had to remove part of my leg and I was laid up for a couple of years. She had to help me out there at the ranch,” Diedrich said. “She had to drive me around because I couldn’t drive. It was quite a job for her.”

“She was just a terribly compassionate, caring and wonderful person,” said their daughter, Marsha Durko of Manhattan Beach. “She was always there.”

In addition to her husband and daughter, Diedrich is survived by three sons, Louis J. Diedrich, Michael T. Diedrich and Mark J. Diedrich, all of Oxnard, and one granddaughter.

Visitation will be held from 3 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at James A. Reardon Mortuary, Oxnard. A vigil and Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday at Santa Clara Church in Oxnard, with interment to follow at Santa Clara Cemetery, Oxnard.

Memorial donations may be made to the Santa Clara Church Building Fund, 323 South E St., Oxnard 93030.