Evangelina Ibarra

On October 23rd our mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, great-great-grandmother, our “pampered princess” went to be with the Lord peacefully in her sleep.

Evangelina was born in the town of Ojo Caliente in the state of Aguascalientes Mexico, the fourth of five children to Anastacio and Gregoria Valenzuela. She enjoyed sharing stories of her life growing up; stories about her extended family, the goings on of her neighbors and so forth. She would love to talk, especially when you were trying to watch a movie.

As she did not want to leave her mother alone, she did not marry until later in life. On a trip she and her mother made to Santa Barbara to visit her sister, she met Teodocio Ibarra, a friend of her brother-in-law. According to Teodocio, this brother-in –law owed him money but he decided to take Evangelina instead (ha ha). They were married almost 54 years when Teodocio passed away in 2012.

Evangelina raised 8 children of her own and dozens of others belonging to working mothers. She loved children. Nothing brought more joy to her life than hearing that she was going to have another grandchild or great-grandchild. If this did not happen on a regular basis she would try to talk someone into having another baby. She was also an excellent cook so the friends of her children were always over, especially when she was making fresh tortillas. You had not lived until you had a tortilla fresh off her comal.

After the death of Teodocio, the family decided that Evangelina was now “the center of our universe” and spoiled her terribly to which several of her grandchildren stated “as it should be”. If there ever was anyone deserving of this it was her. She worked diligently to take care of her family. She was the epitome of Proverbs 31: 10-31. In turn her family took care of her.

She is preceded in death by her beloved husband, Teodocio, her second son Jaime and all of her siblings.

Evangelina is survived by her children: Gabriel (Diana) Armando (Mary Ellen), Angelica (Guy), Arturo (Diana), Estela (Ed), Gilbert, Socorro (Matt), daughter-in-law Betty and honorary daughter Veronica (Mark): grandchildren Monica (Stephen ), Sophie (Nick), Gabriel Jr, Lydia, Erica (Jeff), Emily, Elliott, Robbie, Kristina, Sara (Robert), Joshua (Erin), Elijah, Ethan, Joseph (Marisol), Benjamin (Daisy), Evelyn, Eddie, Eleanor (Nate), Elaine, David (Sahar), Steve (Megan), Melina, Nick and Mark Jr: great-grandchildren X’ian (Cheyenne), Lily, Kris Jr, Evangelina, Annaleigh, Bobby, Happy, Maryella, Makayla, Kailee, Reagan, Hope, Mia, Rylee, Noa, Casem, Chloe, Stevie, Cruz, Mark Jr, Kayla and great-great grandson Finres.

A Rosary will be held on Monday October 28th at Welch-Ryce-Haider Funeral Chapel from 6:00 – 8:00pm.

Services will be held at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church Tuesday October 29th at 10:00am.

We mourn for the loss of you in our lives but rejoice in the knowledge that you are now the most beautiful, loving mother in Heaven (as it should be). You will be in our hearts until we meet again.