Amadeo Contreras

Amadeo Contreras, of El Paso, Texas, passed away peacefully in his own home surrounded by loved ones on Wednesday, December 21, 2022 at the age of 103.

Born in Jalisco, Mexico, his family fled the turmoil of the Mexican Revolution to Ciudad Juarez where they began life anew, living alongside his older siblings Juan, Paco, and Aurora. From a young age, Amadeo showed himself to be a caring and responsible young man. Following the premature death of his father, Amadeo took on the role of provider for the family together with his mother Elvira and helped raise his younger brothers, Alfonso, Manuel and Memo.

A hard working, self-taught man throughout his life, Amadeo had a wide range of careers during the course of his working life. Among other things, he worked in broadcast radio, as an industrial painter, and finally in mechanical maintenance.

With his wife Consuelo, he welcomed his son Ruben and his daughter Isela and made the move to El Paso. As a painter, he traveled all over the Southwest as far as California. After the tragic loss of Consuelo at a young age, he started work at Utility Trailer Company in order to be close to home and raise his two children alone. Later, he was fortunate to find love a second time with Lorenza and together with his and her children Tonia, Margarita, Manuel, Raquel, Leonardo and Filomeno, they soon added Ricardo to the family.

A life-long learner, he constantly taught himself new skills as required. Indeed, he always found a solution for whatever problems were placed before him. After buying land, he designed and built a home with his own two hands for his wife Lorenza and himself. Fond of puzzles and full of good humor, he was known to challenge visitors with brain teasers to solve, and their home was always ready with hot coffee and pan dulce for any friends or families passing by.

A man of many talents and great creativity, Amadeo loved woodworking, photography, music, and traveling, but most of all he loved spending time with family and friends across a long, full life.

Amadeo was a loving husband, father, step-father, and an inspiration to all who knew him. He set an example for what a good person should be in life and we will all continue to hold his memory in our hearts for years to come.

He is survived by his wife Lorenza, and children, Ruben, Isela, Filomeno, Leonardo, Margarita, Raquel, and Ricardo. The visitation and rosary will be held at Hillcrest Funeral Home, 1010 N Carolina Drive on Monday, January 2nd at 5 pm. A funeral service will take place on Tuesday, January 3rd at 10:30 am at the church of San Felipe de Jésus, 401 Passmore Road. The burial will take place at 12 pm at Mount Carmel Cemetery, 401 S Zaragoza Road.