James Hector Real

October 29, 1935 — December 27, 2025

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Hector passed away peacefully at the Reno Veterans Hospital in Reno Neveda

Hector was born to Antonio & Alvera Real in San Fernando California.

He served in the United States Army November 1954 – September 1956 he was awarded the Good Conduct Metal.

He married Berneta Garrett in June of 1957 and was married until she passed away February 1998, He then married Nanci Hilmes Alonzo in March of 1999 until her passing February 2024.

Hector lived in Southern California most of his life; he loved the sunshine and hated the cold weather he used to tell stories about being in Germany while in the Army and how it snowed and he couldn’t wait to get home.

He was a meat cutter by trade and at one time he and his wife Berneta had a market in Simi Valley called the Village Market after the market he worked for Vons and Ralphs markets cutting meat when we as kids wanted a good old grease burger, he would bring home ground sirloin thinking he could fool us.

He loved getting in the car and taking rides, he would load up Nanci and off they would go didn’t matter where they would just go and find a good place to eat.

He loved to go out and eat he would go miles for a good cheeseburger, funny thing about him he was NOT a fan of Mexican food he used to always say “My mother used to force it down my throat.”

He loved to gamble as did other family members; he would load up his mother, his aunt and his wife and off they would go to the nearest casino. He would tell us funny stories about all their adventures. While he lived in Carson City NV he would get on his scooter and off he would go to the Golden Nugget have a cheeseburger then off to the slots he went he would be gone for hours and come home and tell us how much money he won LOL.

Hector was a socialite he loved being around friends and family; he would host parties and have drinks and plenty of food to eat. He would get an ice chest together with ice, bourbon and coke and real glasses he hated drinking out of plastic than him and his (wives) at different times LOL would get in the car and go and would stop to see friends and family all over Simi Valley and surrounding areas.

He and his wife Nanci used to go to the Catholic Church to see the priest and gift him once a month because he really felt that the priest had saved Nanci's leg.

Hector spent his life taking care of his family, he loved doing yard work and always had the best-looking yard in the neighborhood,

Hector is survived by his children,
Cindy “Real” Howell, Jeanie “Real” (Greg) Elder, Dennis Real & Valli Real

Grandchildren;
James Brian Howell, Maria Howell, Nicole Real, John Ervin & Elijah Ervin

Great Grandchildren;
Isaac L Batman, Esmund J Polmanter, Ezekiel J Howell, Harper N Howell, Oakley J Head & Rylan N Head

His brothers;
Armondo Real & Thomas Real

Hector is proceeded in death by;
Wife's; Berneta Real, Nanci Real
Siblings; Antonio (Sonny) Real, Carols Real, Lenny Real, Valli “Real” Sequeido, Arunful (Marty) Real
Son In Law; Larry B Howell
Great Grandsons; Gabriel M Howell, Thomas Ervin

Hector will be greatly missed, and he is greatly loved

To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of James Hector Real, please visit our flower store.

Service Schedule

Past Services

Funeral Service

Saturday, January 24, 2026

11:00 am - 12:00 pm (Pacific time)

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Burial

Saturday, January 24, 2026

12:00 - 12:30 pm (Pacific time)

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Reception

Saturday, January 24, 2026

Starts at 1:00 pm (Pacific time)

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