Sophia C. Sanchez

Sophia was born in Springerville, Arizona on November 5, 1927, to Julia and Rafael Candelaria. She had a very loving family with four brothers and two sisters. She spent her youth on their family ranch raising farm animals, keeping bees to harvest honey, making cheese, and keeping their garden which sustained them throughout the Great Depression. As a child, she and her siblings would play in the mountains near their farm. There, they found bowls and other tools which were later determined to be Native American pottery that would end up in the Smithsonian Museum in Washington, D. C.

Three of her brothers served in the military during WW II. Her brother Gabriel was killed in action on May 5, 1945, in Okinawa. Sophia met Bennie Sanchez, also a WW II Veteran, when he and his parents would visit her family. During those visits they would play card games, checkers, or dominoes. On June 17, 1944, they were married at the family ranch in Springerville. It was a three-day celebration with lots of family, friends, food, live music and dancing. Her mother, Julia, played the steel guitar while Sophia played the accordion. Sophia and Bennie loved to dance.

Sophia and Bennie started a family of their own in Flagstaff, Arizona. They had three children, Nadine, Ben, and Margaret. While they lived there, they owned a Mexican restaurant and Bennie worked at the Navajo Army Depot. In 1955 they moved to Boulder City, Nevada. Sophia loved Boulder City for so many reasons. She was an active member of the Women’s Club and the Disabled American Veterans Auxiliary. She was a staunch supporter of Women’s Rights and spoke against racial discrimination. She was a member of St. Andrew’s Catholic Church since 1955 and was dedicated to her faith.

She had many jobs she loved throughout her years in Boulder City and was an active member of the community. She worked at the Hoover Dam Snacketeria serving food, and at the Visitor’s Bureau where she ran the Hoover Dam historical movie. She especially liked working in the cafeteria at Mitchell Elementary School where she was like a “foster” grandmother to many students during the school day. She did more than serve delicious food, she cared for all children and made everyone feel welcome. Many students remember her still to this day from her work in the elementary school.

Sophia was always the life of the party. She loved to dress up for Halloween and each year she made sure she had the best costumes. At the local Senior Center, she would help plan and then attend the Halloween parties and often would surprise others with her crazy costumes who were delighted to find out it was Sophia. She loved to play cards, complete puzzles, play dice games, play dominoes, and was often successful when playing Bingo and Keno. Crafting was also one of her favorite passed times. She made Christmas angels and stockings, decorative plates, cross stitched quilts for newborns, and embroidered pillow covers and tapestries. She most recently completed several diamond art projects. She even taught others at her senior living community how to work with diamond art. She became an integral part of her senior living community where she participated in flower arranging, playing games like UNO, Bingo, and Yahtzee and developed lasting friendships with all the residents.

Sophia was surrounded by family when she passed away on November 9, 2024. She will be greatly missed by all who knew her. May she rest in peace.

She was survived by her beloved children and spouses: Nadine and Maurice Flores, Ben and Suzy Sanchez, and Mark Koch; her brother and sisters-in-law: Cisario and Julie Candelaria, Nora Candelaria, Reese Candelaria (nephew), Claudia Salsbury and Evelyn, and Rose Candelaria; grandchildren: Tammee and Tod Springer, Deena and John Lyons, Anthony and Jennifer Flores, Andrea and Mark Jared, Brian and Diana Sanchez, Nina and Riley Gilbert, and Ryan and Ceren Koch; and great grandchildren: Hayden and Taylor, Austin and Lauren, Alex and Alyssa, Jaylyn, Lucia, Brady, Carston and Holden, Drake, Breeze, and Victoria.

She was preceded in death by her parents Julia and Rafael Candelaria, her husband of 48 years, Bennie Sanchez; her husband, Jack Wooley; her brothers: Pete Candelaria, Gabriel Candelaria, and Gilbert Candelaria; her sisters: Julia Sloan and Elsie Cruz; and her daughter Margaret Sanchez Koch.