Maria Elijia Villanueva

The Rosary for Maria Villanueva, 81, of Portales, NM will be recited at 9:00 AM, Wed., Dec. 17, 2025 at St. Helen Catholic Church.  Mass of the Resurrection will follow at 10:00 AM with Fr. Francisco Carbajal as celebrant.  Burial will be in the Portales Cemetery with Joel Aranda, Isaac Aranda, Raymond Mirabal III, Lucario Mirabal, Aydenn Mirabal, Jonathan Mirabal and Jaron Turnbow serving as pallbearers.  All of her granddaughters and great-grandchildren will be honorary pallbearers.  A meal will be served in the Parish Hall following the burial services.  Visitation will be at Wheeler Mortuary in Portales, NM on Saturday, December 13, 2025 from 4pm-8pm, Sunday, December 14, 2025 from 12pm-6pm and Monday, December 15, 2025 and Tuesday, December 16, 2025 from 8am-8pm.  

Maria Elijia Villanueva, age 81, was called home by our Heavenly Father on December 12, 2025 in Clovis, NM. She passed away peacefully surrounded with love at the home of her son Raymond Mirabal Jr. and his wife, Liz. Their home became her home on July 5, 2025 when she began to require more assistance. At this time, they became her sole caregivers along with their three daughters where she happily spent the remainder of her days. 

Maria is preceded in death by her parents, Daniel and Antonia Villanueva and four siblings: Margaret Villanueva, Facundo Villanueva, Berna Villanueva, and Baby Villanueva (at birth). Also preceding her in death is the father of her children, Raymond Mirabal Sr., her youngest beloved son, John Mirabal, on August 22, 1999, and her sister-in-law, Mary Villanueva. She is survived by her three remaining children: Johanna Mirabal of Clovis, NM, her children and their families, Raymond (Liz) Mirabal Jr. of Clovis, NM, their children and their families, and Becky Mirabal of Portales, NM, her children and their families. She is also survived by eight siblings: Florian Villanueva of Big Spring, TX; Amelia (Pete) Trujillo of Portales, NM; Lucy Segovia of Bardstown, KY; Ernest (Adelina) Villanueva of Portales, NM; Jerry (Ofelia) Villanueva of Portales, NM; Rita (Nino) Ortega of Portales, NM; Cecilia (David) Montoya of Portales, NM; Dora (Henry) Apodoca of Portales, NM, and many nieces and nephews too numerous to mention by name, but very much included. She is also survived by her special friend Eddie Quinteros and her Yorkie, Muñeca. 

Maria was born on February 27, 1944 to the family of Daniel and Antonia (Lucero) Villanueva in Encino, NM. She was the fifth of thirteen children. The family moved to Portales, NM while she was still a baby and she remained in Portales until July when she moved in with her son and daughter-in-law in Clovis, NM. She married Raymond Mirabal Sr. in November 1960 at the age of 16 and together they had four children. For the early part of her married years, she was able to stay home and care for her family.  Hard work was instilled in her from a very young age, so every summer she worked in the fields hoeing crops for local farmers. That was something she did as a child as well while still living at home and taking care of her younger siblings. Even after she started working as a cook for the Portales Schools, working in the fields continued to be a summer routine for her and her children. She also worked at a church nursery during that time. In her later years she worked as an adult home care provider and finished out her working years at Rick Ledbetter Farms, harvesting and selling green and red chile at the Portales and Clovis Farmer's Markets. She was a non-stop hardworking, strong woman. For a few years before her heart surgery in 1995 she sang in the church choir. After the surgery, she had to stop singing because her breaths were no longer deep enough to hold the notes, but for the past ten years she and her daughter-in-law Liz would sing up a storm on the way to and from innumerable doctors’ appointments and fun trips together. Singing brought her such joy and it was very evident with every “grito” she belted out. Those who knew her will remember that grito well. She enjoyed sharing stories of her childhood and fondly remembered watching Willy the Sparrow on the VCR with her grandchildren. Maria was also very selfless and giving. She helped family and friends whenever she could and if she couldn't, she would find a way. Sometimes she would do without or had very little left for herself, but she continued to have a big heart and made sure nobody went without. She lovingly opened her home and welcomed everyone, even practically raising two of her grandsons.

Maria will be missed dearly and whole heartedly by those who call her Mom, Nana, Pita, Sister, Aunt, Mama Eka, and friend.

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