Veva Santa Maria
1/3/1918 - 2/14/2015

Genoveva Ponce Santa Maria, 97, passed away at home in Marana, AZ on 2/14/2015 after a brief illness.

Veva is preceded in death by her husband, Teodoro S. Santa Maria. She is survived by her sister, Bertha Ramos, daughter Erlinda Santa Maria, son David (Karen) Santa Maria, grandchildren Marty and Andrea Santa Maria, great-granddaughter Tenley Santa Maria, and 19 nieces and nephews.

Veva was devoted to La Virgen de Guadalupe and took great pride in being a member of her church's Guadalupanas club. Steeped in profound faith since childhood, Veva continued to kneel in daily prayers until her illness. She arose each morning to greet/touch all of her saints' figures and pictures. Veva loved to sing and to dance, and she created beautiful embroideries throughout her life. Veva learned to embroider as a teen in a CCC camp during the Depression years, where girls were taught domestic arts. She taught many people to embroider and continued to embroider until last May.

Veva will be laid to rest in Silver City, NM, her birthplace, alongside five generations of Ponce, Valenzuela and Elias family. A separate memorial service will take place in Tucson, AZ. Visitation will be Friday, February 27 from 5-6pm at Terrazas Funeral Chapels with the holy rosary to begin at 6pm with Dr. Gilbert Arizaga reciting. The funeral liturgy will be celebrated on Saturday, February 28 at 10am at St. Vincent Catholic Church with Father Rod Nichols officiating. Funeral procession follows at St. Vincent Catholic cemetery.

A rosary will be held at Carrillo's Mortuary 204 S. Stone Ave. Tucson, AZ on Saturday, March 7th at 3pm. Arrangements are with Terrazas Funeral Chapels "Trusted care for the ones you love" ~ 575-537-0777. To send condolences, visit www.terrazasfuneralchapel.com.