Vilma Elizabeth Benavente Valiente De Cifuentes

Vilma Elizabeth Benavente Valiente de Cifuentes, 48 years old, passed away January 23, 2023, peacefully in her sleep. At the age of 19 she came from Guatemala to the United States with the dream to help her mother, brothers, and sisters.

She met my father Mauro David Cifuentes, who also came from the same country. She was a hard worker. She did everything in her power to care for her daughter, her son, and her husband. She was the most independent, hard-working woman I have ever known. She was my hero.

With my father by her side, together they've gone through a journey full of beauty, laughter, joy, and struggles. A relationship that has become a staple for how to fight for one another. Together they worked hard, and provided a secure, successful future for my brother and I.

Not many people can say they came from a third world country and be as successful as these two were. I know my mom was proud of herself and was proud of where she came from. She set an example for how to be unapologetically yourself. She set an example for those in her country, for a dream. She will forever be in our hearts. We will forever remember her laugh, we will forever remember her smile, we will forever remember her strength, and we will forever remember her will to always be optimistic with anything in life.