Lucia Eufemia Valencia Padilla

Lucia Eufemia Valencia Padilla was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother (Nana), daughter, sister, and friend. She left this world on April 7, 2021 at age 91 with her children, Maryann and Eddie, by her side. She was born to Maria Vigil Valencia and Manuel Valencia in Pecos, New Mexico on December 13, 1929 the fourth of thirteen children. In 1946, she moved to San Rafael, NM where she married the love of her life, Manuel O. Padilla. They were married for 52 years and had two beautiful children. She was active in her community and in the San Rafael Catholic Church. She retired from the Grants-Cibola School district where she was a cafeteria worker and a teacher’s aide. Lucia Eufemia enjoyed cooking, spending time with family and friends, traveling, puzzles, and game shows. She made the world’s best tamales, tortillas, and carne enchilada. She was delighted when she met Pope John Paul II on one of her trips to Rome. Following her beloved husband’s death in 1998, she lived with her devoted daughter, Maryann, in California, Texas, and New Mexico. While in Texas, she spent as much time as possible with her great grandchildren, attending every game, program, recital, competition, and family gathering. She was preceded in death by her husband, Manuel O. Padilla, her parents Maria Vigil Valencia and Manuel Valencia, her brothers, Samuel Valencia and Adolfo Valencia, her sisters, Lala Valencia, Antonia Valencia, Lou Valencia Martinez, Clorinda Valencia Nanez. She is survived by her daughter, Maryann Padilla, her son and his wife, Edward (Eddie) Padilla, Antoinette (Toni) Padilla, her granddaughter, Janelle Padilla McNabnay and her husband Neil McNabnay, her grandson, Eddie Padilla and his partner Elizabeth Tobias, her great-grandchildren, Conor McNabnay, Erin McNabnay and Faith McNabnay, her siblings, Sylvia Valencia Sandoval, Mercedes Valencia Chacon, Joe Valencia, Manuel Valencia, and over 50 nieces and nephews.