Emilia D. Zapien

Emilia D. Zapien was called home to be with the Lord on Valentine’s Day. She was born to Juan and Petra Diaz in Chihuahua, Mexico on April 19, 1927. She was a loving, caring and devoted wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, who loved to dance, sew, decorate cakes, socialize and entertain family and friends.

Her love of education and dancing drove her to be a volunteer “Folklorico” dance teacher when her children and grandchildren were in Elementary School. She was a volunteer “Folklorico” dance teacher at Davenport Elementary School when her daughter Patricia Ramirez taught there. She was a “Guadalupana” at San Martin de Porres Catholic Church, She and her husband were members of the “Encuentro Matrimonial”, and helped organize and were active members of the couples group “Club 1373” in Sunland Park, NM. She went to school at “Sor Juana Inez de la Cruz” and was attending “El Instituto Cientifico y Literario de Chihuahua” in pursuit of a Pharmaceutical Degree when she met the love of her life Ernesto Zapien, Jr.

They wanted their children to grow up and be educated so they brought their children from Mexico to the United States so that they could get an education. Their dream became true as she had the opportunity to attend night school to learn to speak English and get her United States Citizenship. Her children and grandchildren have acquired a total of 8 Master Degrees, 14 Bachelor Degrees and 9 Associate Degrees in Nursing, Education, Business, Engineering and Technology combined.

She is proceeded in death by her son-in-law’s Gary M. McDaniel and Donn M. Parsons, her sister Maria Cabrera and brothers Armando, Leobardo and Carlos Diaz. She is survived by her loving husband of 68 years Ernesto Zapien Jr., sons Rogelio (Pecky), Benjamin Rene (Ramona), Ernesto III (Sylvia) and Gilberto (Rebecca) Zapien, daughters Marisela McDaniel (Gregorio Ortiz), Patricia (Dario) Ramirez, Sonia Zapien and Nancy Parsons, 18 Grandchildren and 16 Great-Grandchildren, her sister Alejandrina Borjes and brothers Leopoldo, Roberto, Mario and Jesus Diaz.

Pallbearers will be Victor Ramirez, Arturo Payan, Gabriel Payan, Ben Zapien Jr., Mario Zapien and Ernesto Zapien IV. In Lieu of flowers we ask that contributions be made in her memory to the Gaudalupana's at San Martin de Porres Catholic Church, Sunland Park, NM or The Guadalupana’s National Alliance for the Mentally Ill at 1615 Alameda Ave., El Paso, Texas 79905.

A Visitation will be held on Wednesday, February 18, 2015 from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at Martin Funeral Home West. Funeral Mass will be held on Thursday, February 19, 2015 at 12:00 Noon at San Martin de Porres Catholic Church, 1885 McNutt Rd., Sunland Park, NM 88063. Interment will follow at Memory Gardens of the Valley Cemetery, 4900 McNutt Rd., Santa Teresa, NM 88008. Services entrusted to Martin Funeral Home West, 128 North Resler Dr., El Paso, Texas 79912.