María Ramona Sepúlveda y Serrano was born at Santa Bárbara, Alta California, Nuevo España (New Spain). She was the daughter of Francisco Sepúlveda y Redondo and María Ramona Serrano y Silvas. She was baptized at the Santa Bárbara Presidio Chapel July 21, 1808 (BP Baptism 00331). She married widower José Agustín Machado y Valenzuela at the Los Angeles Plaza Church February 27, 1827. She became a U.S. citizen following the invasion of Mexico and the transfer of California's sovereignty in 1848. Ramona lived on her husband's Rancho la Ballona and until her final days, and witnessed its transformation from open rangeland to a sprawling city. She was buried in (Old) Calvary Cemetery Friday, February 6, 1891. Her remains transferred to (New) Calvary Cemetery by her daughter Susana Machado y Sepúlveda de Bernard for burial in the Bernard family plot about 1905.
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Coroner Weldon yesterday went to Ballona, where he held an inquest on the body of Mrs. Ramona Sepulveda [de] Machado, who was found dead in bed yesterday morning [4th]. The jury returned a verdict of death from natural causes. Mrs. Machado was 82 years of age.
(Los Angeles Times, Feb. 6, 1891)
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NOT FOUND DEAD.
But Passed Away Surrounded by Children.

Editors Herald: Doña Ramona Sepúlveda [de] Machado, who died at her home at La Ballona the other day, surrounded by her numerous children and grandchildren, and who was buried yesterday, was in many respects a notable woman, both by reason of her own personal qualities, as well as by her connection with some of the first families of early Los Angeles.
The writer of this memorial note made her acquaintance some thirty odd years ago. She was the wife of Don Agustín Machado, a prominent citizen of the olden time, who died many years ago. Their townhome was the ancient adobe house, long a landmark on the corner of Winston and Main streets, where the government building now stands.
Doña Ramona was a sister of Don José Sepúlveda, whose descendants today are numerous and prominent; they include Judge Sepúlveda, now in the City of Mexico, for many years a district judge of this county, and his brother Andronico; Mrs. T. D. Mott, Mrs. Captain Haley and Mrs. James Thompson (the latter of whom is the heroine of a late romantic story by Mrs. Addis Storke, in the Argonaut).
A sister of Mrs. Machado, Doña Concepción Sepúlveda, married a De la Guerra, one of the grandees of Santa Barbara, where she still resides. Mrs. Juan Bernard, of this city, widow of the owner of the Natick house block, is one of Mrs. Machado's daughters. Doña Ramona was widely known by the old settlers, and she was universally respected and beloved for her amiable and sterling qualities. The writer remembers vividly with what cordiality and friendliness and apparently genuine pleasure, certain families used to welcome the not very frequent visits of "Doña Ramona," thirty and thirty-five years ago. Her vivacious, earnest and yet always kindly, gracious ways, made everybody like her.
She left a large family of five sons and four daughters, all of mature age, besides grandchildren, all of whom venerated her.
Instead of being "found dead in her bed," as erroneously announced by the press, every one of her nine children was present at her death, and most of them watched with her night and day during her last sickness, as is the native California custom; and she had all the loving care they could bestow. And so one link after another is broken that binds the Los Angeles of today with the Los Angeles of the past. Peace and benedictions to the memory of a good woman! H. D. B.
Los Angeles, Feb. 7, 1891.
(Los Angeles Herald, Sunday, Feb. 8, 1891; 8:2)