Lily Benavidez Holguín, of Phoenix, Arizona, died Thursday of natural causes.
She passed peacefully surrounded by her loving family. Lily was born in Silver City, New Mexico, on October 18, 1931, to Reymundo Benavidez and Beatriz Polanco. Lily lived a life of faith with her loving husband of 64 years, Arturo “Tudie” Holguín until his passing in 2012. After getting married in 1955, they started their family in Santa Clara, New Mexico. They moved their family to Salt Lake City, Utah for twenty years, and then Phoenix, Arizona, for seven years. Then in 1993, Tudie and Lily returned home to Santa Clara to live out their life in a beautiful home Tudie built for Lily.
Lily spent her life caring for her family and was a mother figure to many beyond her immediate family. Lily loved to cook and bake for her family and treasured friends. As a child care provider Lily played an integral role in raising children of all ages. She saw to their social, health and mental welfare, by offering them stability and love. A faithful volunteer at Santa Clara Catholic Church, Silver City Senior Center, and as an election worker for decades. Lily was proud of her impact to better the community she loved so much.
Everyone that Lily met has a Lily story. She was endearing, charismatic, and made everyone feel special. She was funny, feisty and filled every room with laughter and colorful stories. Lily loved listening to music and watching her novelas. She looked for any opportunity to brag about her children and grandchildren and loved to participate in their accomplishments and major milestones. Later in life Lily spent her days visiting with, talking to and writing letters to friends and family to share family news and to keep in touch. The matriarch of the Benavidez-Holguin family, Lily will be remembered as a dear sister, giving mother, loving grandma, devoted wife, and a cherished friend. She and her husband Tudie were married for over 50 years and shared a deep love of family, faith, and New Mexican culture. It is from this love that her family continues to grow and strive to lead lives full of purpose and strength.
A devout Catholic, Lily’s faith always saw her through family loss and hard times. It is this same faith that has been passed down to the generations, that will see her family through this time of loss.
Lily is survived by her daughter Erminda Garcia and her husband Eugene, her son Ricardo “Champ” Aguirre and his wife Cathy, her son Ronald “Sonny” Aguirre and his wife Barbara. She was preceded in death by her daughter Hope “China” Aguirre and her daughter Martha Cecilia Baca Torres. Lily is survived by 10 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren and preceded in death by her grandsons Ika Ricardo Aguirre and Joel Aguirre (daughter Neveah). Her loving grandchildren and their families are: Joaquin Aguirre; Marisol Garcia her husband Denis Castro and their son Vicente Castro; Javier Baca, his wife Maria and their sons Xoaquin, Adan and Diego; Ava Gomez, her husband Peter and their children Joaquin, Julian and Jiana; Marivel Pesqueira, her husband Jimmy and their children Andres & his wife Rosette, Marissa, Santiago, Gabriel and Olivia; Malena Aguirre and her son Hayden and daughter Eretria; Armando Aguirre, his wife and their son Canyon; Gregorio Aguirre, Jessica Hayes and Shaylyn Aguirre.
Public visitation will begin at 5pm followed by a Rosary service at 6pm Wednesday, February 12, 2020 at Terrazas Funeral Chapels. The Funeral mass will be held on Thursday at 2:00pm at Santa Clara Catholic Church with Father Casmir Anozie officiating. Concluding service and interment will follow at Santa Clara cemetery.
Pallbearers will be Saul Padilla, Raul Padilla, Henry Andazola, Joseph Barrios, Gilbert Barrios, Juan Sierra, Joe Sierra, and Gabriel Benavidez. Honorary pallbearers will be Denis Castro, Peter Gomez, Jimmy Pesqueira, Randy Soto, Louis Ortega, Danny Ortega, Leonard Ortega, Martin Ortega, and Sammy Saenz.
Arrangements are with Terrazas Funeral Chapels “Trusted care for the ones you love” ~ 575-537-0777. To send condolences, visit www.terrazasfuneralchapel.com.
She passed peacefully surrounded by her loving family. Lily was born in Silver City, New Mexico, on October 18, 1931, to Reymundo Benavidez and Beatriz Polanco. Lily lived a life of faith with her loving husband of 64 years, Arturo “Tudie” Holguín until his passing in 2012. After getting married in 1955, they started their family in Santa Clara, New Mexico. They moved their family to Salt Lake City, Utah for twenty years, and then Phoenix, Arizona, for seven years. Then in 1993, Tudie and Lily returned home to Santa Clara to live out their life in a beautiful home Tudie built for Lily.
Lily spent her life caring for her family and was a mother figure to many beyond her immediate family. Lily loved to cook and bake for her family and treasured friends. As a child care provider Lily played an integral role in raising children of all ages. She saw to their social, health and mental welfare, by offering them stability and love. A faithful volunteer at Santa Clara Catholic Church, Silver City Senior Center, and as an election worker for decades. Lily was proud of her impact to better the community she loved so much.
Everyone that Lily met has a Lily story. She was endearing, charismatic, and made everyone feel special. She was funny, feisty and filled every room with laughter and colorful stories. Lily loved listening to music and watching her novelas. She looked for any opportunity to brag about her children and grandchildren and loved to participate in their accomplishments and major milestones. Later in life Lily spent her days visiting with, talking to and writing letters to friends and family to share family news and to keep in touch. The matriarch of the Benavidez-Holguin family, Lily will be remembered as a dear sister, giving mother, loving grandma, devoted wife, and a cherished friend. She and her husband Tudie were married for over 50 years and shared a deep love of family, faith, and New Mexican culture. It is from this love that her family continues to grow and strive to lead lives full of purpose and strength.
A devout Catholic, Lily’s faith always saw her through family loss and hard times. It is this same faith that has been passed down to the generations, that will see her family through this time of loss.
Lily is survived by her daughter Erminda Garcia and her husband Eugene, her son Ricardo “Champ” Aguirre and his wife Cathy, her son Ronald “Sonny” Aguirre and his wife Barbara. She was preceded in death by her daughter Hope “China” Aguirre and her daughter Martha Cecilia Baca Torres. Lily is survived by 10 grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren and preceded in death by her grandsons Ika Ricardo Aguirre and Joel Aguirre (daughter Neveah). Her loving grandchildren and their families are: Joaquin Aguirre; Marisol Garcia her husband Denis Castro and their son Vicente Castro; Javier Baca, his wife Maria and their sons Xoaquin, Adan and Diego; Ava Gomez, her husband Peter and their children Joaquin, Julian and Jiana; Marivel Pesqueira, her husband Jimmy and their children Andres & his wife Rosette, Marissa, Santiago, Gabriel and Olivia; Malena Aguirre and her son Hayden and daughter Eretria; Armando Aguirre, his wife and their son Canyon; Gregorio Aguirre, Jessica Hayes and Shaylyn Aguirre.
Public visitation will begin at 5pm followed by a Rosary service at 6pm Wednesday, February 12, 2020 at Terrazas Funeral Chapels. The Funeral mass will be held on Thursday at 2:00pm at Santa Clara Catholic Church with Father Casmir Anozie officiating. Concluding service and interment will follow at Santa Clara cemetery.
Pallbearers will be Saul Padilla, Raul Padilla, Henry Andazola, Joseph Barrios, Gilbert Barrios, Juan Sierra, Joe Sierra, and Gabriel Benavidez. Honorary pallbearers will be Denis Castro, Peter Gomez, Jimmy Pesqueira, Randy Soto, Louis Ortega, Danny Ortega, Leonard Ortega, Martin Ortega, and Sammy Saenz.
Arrangements are with Terrazas Funeral Chapels “Trusted care for the ones you love” ~ 575-537-0777. To send condolences, visit www.terrazasfuneralchapel.com.
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