It is with a heavy heart that we announce the passing of Leonor Sepulveda Teran of Las Cruces, formerly of Deming, from this world. We rejoice that she is now in the hands of our Almighty Creator, his son Jesus, the Holy Spirit, their Holy Angels and her family awaiting her in heaven.
Her spirit left this earth at 4:25 pm, Sunday, January 7 at Mesilla Valley Hospice in Las Cruces, after suffering a life-ending heart condition on Saturday morning. Present at her passing were all her sons and their families to assist her in this loving and peaceful passing into heaven.
Leonor was born in Santa Rita, NM on April 22nd, 1933 to Manuel P. Sepulveda and Hortencia Sepulveda.
Leonor was a most loving, attentive, stay-at-home mom instilling all her love, devotion and values to her six sons. They were, and are, the center of her universe. Married to Manuel Teran in March 1961, the family moved to Deming to Manuel's first job with Robert, Roy, Rene and John in tow.
They found a home only a block from Smith elementary school, a block from Deming Junior High with the High School nearby. This is where all the boys, later joined by brothers James and Joe, attended school. She was so happy that she found a home close to the schools and her joy was complete when she found Holy Family Catholic Church was only 1 block behind the home.
The church became her second home, where she attended Mass every morning, came home and got her family ready for school. All six of her sons became Mass servers and she made sure that they participated in all church and school related activities. She joined the Holy Family Altar Society and helped with fundraising for the church. She was active in helping with church funds to pay for utilities for those who needed help. She collected and distributed food baskets and clothing on Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter, making sure that the children, especially, had adequate food and clothing. She was the first in Deming to be commissioned by Bishop Ramirez to administer the Holy Host to communicants at Holy Family Church. Later she asked Father Bently if she could distribute communion at the nursing home and to the homebound. Even later, Father Joe Anderson began providing mass services at the nursing home and would ask Leonor to accompany him to the detention center in Deming and the Southern New Mexico Prison to hold mass services for inmates. She was also active in Pan-American Round Table, a social club.
By this time, the older children had left for college and she became interested in providing foster care services for needy children. She has taken over 20 children into her home at different times, providing them with everything necessary to make their lives comfortable, but most of all, an environment where they felt loved, cared-for and safe.
During this time, she became an accomplished artist. She produced many beautiful oil paintings that she gave to family and friends. One of her paintings was borrowed to display at an art show in Dallas, Texas. She won blue ribbons for some of her works.
One occasion, she commented "I made sure all the boys took swimming lessons, but I don't know how to swim. That will be my goal before I reach 50". She reached that goal. She took her experience and taught water aerobics to up to 20 ladies at a time. At this time, she lost a dear friend who helped her organize gatherings at each other's' homes and dining places to help the ladies socialize. Leonor felt her friend's absence so strongly that she felt she could no longer do this work. Instead, she turned her attention to helping this friend's brother, who was left alone at age 90. She provided food and clothing and would take him shopping and to doctor appointments until his death.
She and Manuel were very proud to have been selected as Deming High School Wildcat "Fans of the Year" in 1987 in appreciation of their commitment to DHS Athletics, where all six sons participated in Varsity sports over the course of the preceding 20 years.
During this time, she began to feel that something was not right with her. She was diagnosed with dementia, which increasingly disabled her until the day she passed.
Leonor is survived by her husband, Manuel of Las Cruces; 5 sons Robert Perea (Anna), their children Christopher, David and sons Adrian and Ryan; Dianna Yarborough (Sam) 3 daughters (Kaweah, Atsah and Isabella; Rene Perea (Lori); John Teran (Carol) and son Ryan; James Teran; Joe Teran (Robin) and children Colby, Ashleigh, Sebastian and Daniella She is also survived by her sister Jean Zapata, brothers Daniel Sepulveda, Reynaldo Sepulveda and Frank Sepulveda.
She was preceded in death by her parents, sister Alice Bickford, brother Ernest Sepulveda, son Roy Perea and grandson Logan Cote.
We rejoice that she has entered the kingdom of heaven with a loving, peaceful passing with all her family present.
Our heartfelt thanks to all that were so kind when we lived in Deming, especially Holy Family Catholic Church, Lupe Hernandez, Mary Escarcega, Marta Salcido, Dr. John Lundy and Dr. Aswad. Also, the providers at the ambulance services, police department, Mountain View Hospital and Mesilla Valley Hospice in Las Cruces.
A Rosary Service will be recited at Holy Family Catholic Church in Deming at 10:30 am on Thursday January 11th followed by Mass of the Christian Burial. Father Ron Machado will officiate. A private inurnment will be held on Friday at Fort Bayard National Cemetery. Cremation has been entrusted to Baca's Mimbres Crematory.