Herminia's Obituary
HERMINIA "MINNIE" DILBECK
Her small frame could deceive you, concealing a fireball personality and huge, infectious smile.
Herminia "Minnie" Dilbeck never hit five feet, yet her stature was enormous. Spirited and loving, Minnie's great run came to an end September 1 in Glendale after a long battle with heart disease and other ailments. She was 93.
The matriarch left behind six children, 16 grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren and four great-great-grandchildren all of whom were constantly bathed in her love and affection. Minnie could be fiercely protective of her own, but passion went with her in all endeavors.
The vibrant Minnie was married for 37 years to Ray Dilbeck. She was by his side when he founded and grew Dilbeck & Associates, now one of the largest family-owned real estate companies in the Southland. After he passed in 1995, she never dated again, saying "I've already had the best."
Minnie was born April 25, 1928 in El Paso, Texas, the oldest of Roberto and Maria Magdalena Gomez's five children. They moved to Southern California in her youth, the family settling in Burbank where her father owned a diner on Victory Boulevard.
She graduated from Burbank High School in 1946. The always fun-loving Minnie treasured taking the ferry to Catalina Island to dance to big bands at the casino and to roller skate at the Moonlight Rollerway in Glendale.
In her second marriage, she found the love of her life in Ray Dilbeck. For a time she was an agent in his burgeoning real estate company. Along with her siblings, in the '70s the Dilbecks purchased El Chiquito family Mexican restaurant in Burbank and owned it for 21 years. Minnie could often be heard barking orders in the kitchen to make sure the food and service were up to par. The restaurant was directly across the street from what was then Burbank Studios. Celebrities and movie or TV extras would constantly frequent El Chiquito, sometimes still wearing their costumes during lunch breaks. She called Muhammad Ali the most charismatic person she ever met.
Minnie loved to travel the world with Ray, and along with him was devoted to thoroughbreds and horse racing. She retained her fondness for big band music throughout her life, would still sway to the sounds of Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett and Linda Ronstadt, and loved traditional Mexican music.
Loving, fiery, sometimes volatile, and not shy about sharing her opinion, Minnie was passionately devoted to family.
She is survived by son Mike (Jill) Silvas, daughter Sylvia Silvas, sons Mark (Teresa) Dilbeck, Bruce (Christine) Dilbeck, Kirk (Leah) Dilbeck, stepson Steve (Darla) Dilbeck, brother Bobbie Gomez, sister Maggie Sands and sister Carmen Ferrante. Her passing was preceded by her brother Eddie Gomez.
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