Graciela Lopez's Obituary
Graciela Lopez passed away on January 27, 2024, at the age of 97, at her home in Springville, UT, surrounded by her loving family. She is survived by her three children: Zelania Francisca Nungaray, Grace, and Martin Villagomez. She also had seven grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Graciela Lopez was born on June 1, 1926, in Chichigalpa, Nicaragua, to Francisca Cordero and Lizandro Gomez. She was the youngest of three children and the only one they shared. Graciela grew up in Chichigalpa, Nicaragua, and completed her education up to the fifth grade.
In 1944, Graciela married Hector Paguaga at the age of 19, and they had two daughters, Gladis and Zelania Paguaga. Unfortunately, Gladis died at the age of one and eventually Graciela divorced Hector. She then wrote to her uncle, Salvador, who convinced her to live with his family in the United States. Graciela immigrated to the United States in 1952, at the age of 26, with her three-year-old daughter, Zelania. She did not speak the language and faced many challenges, but she confronted them with bravery.
In 1953, Graciela married Daniel Villagomez, and they had two children, Grace and Martin Villagomez. Unfortunately, they divorced 14 years later. At the age of 51, Graciela met Cirilo Lopez, a kind man who welcomed all her children and grandchildren. They were married for 15 years and then divorced.
Graciela worked many jobs to provide for her family, including being a seamstress, an owner of a record store and a sewing factory, a glove model, and a sales representative. She loved her children and grandchildren and did everything in her power to keep them safe. When Graciela was 66 years old, she was ready to go to Jerusalem, where she always dreamt of walking in the footsteps of Jesus Christ. However, she decided to help her daughter, Zelania, raise her children, Ulysses, Jarite, and Zelania. The rest of her life was focused on raising her grandchildren and serving God.
Graciela was a devout member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints for most of her life. She enjoyed her church callings, which included primary teacher, ministering sister, and ward missionary. She especially loved being a missionary and wanted everyone to know the love God had for all of us. She like her mother, was known for their charitable acts of kindness, including giving food to people even when she didn't have enough. Graciela also gave a burial plot to a widow of five because she had no money or a place to bury her husband. She gave many families a safe room to live in throughout the years. In her later years, Graciela was known to stay in her room and pray for her family and friends.
Graciela enjoyed music, dancing, ministering, and going out to eat with her family. She joined the church choir for many years and was known to dance all night at church activities and parties. She enjoyed ministering to all the people who would hear her. She would walk one or two miles a day searching for people who needed to hear the gospel. On Saturdays, she was known to tell her family, “Let's go out to eat!” She enjoyed eating and spending time with her family.
Till we meet again! We love you so much!
The family is eternally grateful to all those who helped Graciela in her final hours on this Earth. Thank you to Intermountain Medical Center in Provo and Spanish Fork, Enhabit, Premier, and all of our ward members.
Services will be held at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints located at 678 South 950 West, Springville, Utah, on February 10, at 11:00 a.m. Viewing will be before the service at 10:00 a.m. Graveside services will be held at the Springville City Cemetery 200 W 400 South, Springville, UT 84663 on February 10, 2024, after the funeral.
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