Francisco V Lugo

Francisco “Chico” Valencia Lugo passed away in his Tucson home, surrounded by his family on March 16, 2020 at 3:02PM. He was 90 years old. Chico was born February 8, 1930 to Jose Lugo and Adela Valencia in a Sonorian puebilito, Bacadéhuachi where he was raised with his brothers and sisters.

He became a field worker at a young age and moved up and down the California coast. He would meet his future wife, Mercy Lugo (Ante), in Southern California and they married in San Jose, California in August 1952. Together they created a home that would be the center of their 10 children’s lives.

When his wife had passed, his children were grown, and after over 40 years in California he was ready to retire and move closer to his native Mexico. In Tucson, once again he made a home that was open to all his children, grandchildren, friends and extended family. For the next 20 years he stayed young through activity. He worked on his cars and fixed up his house. He enjoyed the warm weather and visiting his old friends and family in Bacadéhuachi. He even started to like some dogs and shared lots of laughs with his ever-growing family.

In August 2018, Chico suffered a stroke and was hospitalized for several weeks, but he stayed strong and recovered a little each day. Somethings changed: he needed help getting dressed, but somethings stayed the same like his desire to be outside every day in the warmth of the sun. When Chico left us, he was welcomed by those that preceded him in death: his parents, his wife, his siblings and his sons Luz Lugo and Francisco Lugo. He is survived by eight of his children: Della Lugo, Aurelia Ontiveros, Mercy Lugo, Henry Lugo, Joe Louis Lugo, John Paul Lugo, Delphina Lugo and Anthony Lugo. He is also survived by his brother Ramon (Maria-Lena), 26 grandchildren, over 50 great-grandchildren, 7 great-great grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews.

We will gather, Sunday, March 29th at 2:00 PM to celebrate Chico’s life together at the Martinez Funeral Chapel in South Tucson, Arizona. At 3:00 PM, the priest will lead us in the Rosary. After the services, please join us at Chico’s home at 4825 S. Mountain Road, Tucson.  A special thanks to his daughter Aurelia for being his primary support and caregiver after his stroke and to his granddaughter Anita Ontiveros for being his most ardent advocate.