Linda Villanueva

Linda Villanueva passed away at the age of 72 on March 17, 2020 in Castle Rock, Colorado, surrounded by her family. Linda was born October 31, 1947 in Marfa, Texas to Frank and Consuelo Lujan. She attended Las Cruces High School where she graduated with the class of 1965. Linda married Manuel Villanueva in 1967 in Dallas, Texas. They were married for 47 years until Manuel’s passing in 2014. Together, they lived in Peru, Louisiana, New Mexico, and Texas. Linda and Manuel raised their four children in Peru and the U.S. When they moved back to Texas, Linda worked for the El Paso Independent School District as a family school liaison from 1994 until 2013. She cherished the relationships she forged there with the staff and the Spanish-speaking families she served. She retired from the school district in 2013. A year after her husband’s passing, she moved to Castle Rock, Colorado, to live with her daughter Martha and her family. Linda fell in love with the beauty of Colorado and enjoyed exploring the great outdoors; walking, hiking, and even trying snowshoeing. She was quite adventurous. She loved traveling and had the opportunity to visit many countries, including Panama, Brazil, Spain, France, and Colombia. But her most special trip happened just a few months before her passing: a pilgrimage to the Holy Land with a church group from Las Cruces, New Mexico.

Linda was a devoted mother and grandmother. She had a radiant smile and a nurturing, kind, and forgiving heart. She loved her family fiercely. Linda had a strong faith in the Lord and was her family’s prayer warrior. She lived every day of her life with gratitude; with appreciation for the beauty around her and a sense of wonder. She was a creator of beauty herself; from the gardens she planted to the homes she decorated, even her personal style--curated with class.

Linda faced her disease with admirable courage and unflinching positivity rooted in her faith. She was known to say, “I’ll do my best and let God do the rest.”

Linda had a heart for serving others. She was an active member in her parish of St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Castle Rock, helping with the Adoration of the Most Blessed Sacrament, taking communion to the sick, and assisting with St. Vincent de Paul's food pantry. Linda also volunteered at Help and Hope Center’s Treasures and was involved at New Hope Presbyterian church as well, where she made many friends.

Linda is survived by her four children and seven grandchildren. Martha, her husband Luis and son and daughter Luis Alberto and Carolina (Castle Rock, CO); Manuel Eduardo, his wife Delfi and daughters and son Mia, Isabella and Diego (Draper, UT); Rafael (El Paso, TX), Sandra and daughters Olivia and Emilie (Washington, DC) her brothers Paco and wife Teresa (Las Cruces, NM), Antonio (Las Cruces, NM), Jerry (Albuquerque, NM), sisters Gloria and husband Jimmy Chavarria (Las Cruces, NM), Margaret and husband Ramon Lucero (Las Cruces, NM), Susy and husband Larry Montes (Las Cruces, NM), Sylvia and husband Jim Miller (Aztec, NM) as well as numerous nephews, nieces and cousins. Linda was preceded in death by her husband Manuel and her parents. Her funeral Mass was held at St. Francis of Assisi Roman Catholic Church on Friday, November 26, at 11 a.m. MST.

The funeral Mass of Linda Villanueva was live streamed for those who were unable to join in person. It can be viewed at: Saint Francis of Assisi Catholic Church | Facebook.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Catholic Charities of Castle Rock.