Elvia Ahumada

Elvia Ahumada (née Paez), 93, passed away at her home on February 4, 2017 in Nogales, Arizona. Visitation will be held at Martinez Funeral Chapels in Nogales on Thursday, February 9, 2017 from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. A rosary will be recited at Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish on Friday, February 10, 2017 at 2:00 p.m. A Mass Celebration will continue at 2:30 p.m. Burial interment will follow after Mass at the Nogales City Cemetery. Arrangements by Martinez Funeral Chapels, 891 W. Mariposa Rd. Nogales, Arizona, 85621, (520) 281-4489Elvia was born in Nogales to Simon and Balvaneda Paez on September 27, 1923. She went to school in Nogales Arizona and Nogales Sonora. At age 16, during the height of the Great Depression, she went to work at F.W. Woolworths and was promoted to bookkeeper, a position she kept until she married Mike Ahumada. Together they owned and operated Nogales Transfer, a local business, and Elvia managed the books until the first of six children. She was Chairman Beacon Foundation of Tucson, Grand Regent Nogales Chapter of the Catholic Daughters of America, Director Santa Cruz County Training Programs, President Nogales Garden Club, President Hilltop Art Gallery, Member Pimeria Alta Historical Society, and founding member of the Friends of the Santa Cruz County Courthouse Association. Elvia earned special recognition from the American Legion Post 23 for her work in dedicating the WWII Blue Rose Memorial Plaque and Santa Cruz County Wall of Honor.Elvia is remembered for her kindness and enduring work in the community and for the Catholic Church. She is especially remembered for her pioneering work in establishing group homes in Southern Arizona, reconnecting families and communities with their handicapped children. Elvia loved her family, friends, faith, and community. She loved the arts and was frequently recognized for her award winning roses, photographs and artwork. Elvia is preceded in death by her parents, Simon and Balvaneda; two sisters, Concepcion and Julieta; and her husband of sixty-four years, Mike Ahumada.Elvia is survived by her brother, Carlos Paez of Nogales; sons, Mike (Patsy), Jerry (Karla), Peter (Elizabeth), and Marco (Elizabeth); daughters, Anita and Terry; eight grandchildren, Michael Ahumada, Lisa Perry, Gerardo Ahumada, Joshua Ahumada, Sabrina Ahumada, Peter Ahumada, Baely Ahumada, Pierre Ahumada, and six great-grandchildren; Alexis Ahumada, Adam Perry, Maricela Ahumada, Avayah Ahumada, Cayden Garcia, and Gabriel Garcia. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Santa Cruz Training Programs, P.O. Box 638 Nogales, Arizona, 85628 or http://santacruztrainingprogramsinc.com/sponsors-and-donors.htmlCondolences may be left in Elvia's online guestbook at www.martinezfuneralchapels.com (search for Elvia Ahumada's online obituary and sign the guest book below)The family wishes to extend their gratitude to Maria Solis, Alma Puig, Rosie Romero, Carina Cazares, and Lupita Rosales for their love and support in treating our mother like she was their own.