Stephanie - Age 54 - Alcalde - Herrera

STEPHANNIE PRISCILLA HERRERA, 54, a lifelong resident of Alcalde, born on January 11, 1959 and went to be with the Lord on Monday, February 11, 2013. She was preceded in death by her brother, Matias; maternal grandparents, Antonio and Estefanita Guillen; paternal grandparents, Benito and Teofilla Herrera and will be welcomed home by Marty and Darlene Guillen and Connie Duda who she hung out with and spent most of her weekends with. Ms. Herrera is survived by her daughters, Valerie Vasquez and Donna Valdez and husband Fabian; parents, Harold and Ernestine Herrera; brother, Walter Herrera and companion Mildred; sister, Louann Martinez and husband Clarence; her granddaughters who were the greatest joys in her life, Hannah, Felice, Kaitlyn and Mariela who lived with her; nephews, Dominic Herrera and companion Raven and Matias and Shawn; nieces, Nadine and companion Tanya “Tigger” and Shanaya; great-nieces, Lugardita and Zuri and many special great-nieces and nephews who all considered her a mom. She opened her home and allowed anyone who was in need to stay with her. She had a very loving and giving heart and will be missed by so many. Stephannie had a few special friends, Orlando Romero, Diana and Chuck Breham, Betty Zelic and Lisa Sisneros who she enjoyed spending time with, visiting and talking on the phone with. She enjoyed doing arts and crafts and often spent her days watching TV and eating ice, her favorite. We all have been extremely blessed to have had Stephannie with us for so long. Stephannie had been sick for many years and fought her lengthy illness for her granddaughters who brought her much love and happiness. She enjoyed playing softball with the girls. She spent her childhood days playing with her cousins and enjoyed spending time with her grandmother, Estefanita, who considered her grandma’s girl. Stephannie graduated from Española Valley High School in 1977 then ventured off and attended Highlands University for awhile; she soon returned home to Alcalde and spent her days working at various places. She would attend bingo with her mother and her sister and enjoyed her Tuesday night outings. Her favorite job soon became taking care of her grandmother, Estefanita. She was a very loveable and giving person who was very humble and did not have great possessions but she was willing to share and give you anything she had. Even throughout her illness she never lost her sense of humor or bright spirit. All of us who knew her knew that she was a fighter. She fought her lengthy illness for over 7 years and never complained. When people asked how she was she would always say, fine, with a smile. On Tuesday, February 11, 2013 she would fight no more she was ready to go home to Heaven. So even though many of us are sad and broken hearted it is important to remember Stephannie would not want for all of us to be sad. She would tell us to enjoy our lives for she is finally at rest. She will forever be in our minds and hearts never to be forgotten. She is home with our Lord Jesus Christ and is smiling down and watching over us. Public visitation will begin on Friday, February 15, 2013 at 6:30 p.m. in the Sangre de Cristo Chapel of DeVargas Funeral Home with a rosary to be recited at 7:00 p.m. Mass of Christian burial to be celebrated on Saturday, February 16, 2013 at 11:00 a.m. at the St. Anne’s Catholic Church in Alcalde. Burial to follow at the La Villita Catholic Cemetery with the following serving as pallbearers, Dominic Herrera, Matias Martinez, Shawn Herrera, Fabian Valdez, Travis Portis, Julian Martinez, Derrick Aragon and Abelito Vasquez. The family of Stephannie Priscilla Herrera has entrusted their loved one to DeVargas Funeral Home & Crematory of the Española Valley.

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