Eulalia Saldaña Hernández
10/07/22 – 09/24/21
Eulalia (Lala) Saldaña Hernández, long time resident of Lordsburg, NM, passed away peacefully in her home surrounded by loving family on September 24, 2021, just two weeks shy of her 99th birthday.
Lala was born on October 7, 1922, to parents Altagracia Saldaña Hernández and Norberto Hernández. In addition to her parents, she is preceded in her death by her sisters: Manuela Diaz, Frances Trebizo, Genoveva Marinez, and Antonia Leyba, and her brothers: Andres Hernández, Refugio Hernández, Carlos Hernández, and Ramon Hernández.
She is survived by her sister, Emma Madrid of Albuquerque, NM; her nieces: Laura Scipio (Tucson, AZ) Cassandra Fields-Hatchet (Fontana, CA) Frances George (Hanford, CA) Susie Duesenberg (San Bernardino, CA) Teresa Caballero (Diamond Bar, CA) Sandra Hernández, MD (San Francisco, CA) Margarita Espinosa (So. El Monte, CA) Rachel Beutel-Madrid (Albuquerque, NM) And her nephews: Isidro Hernández (Santa Rosa, NM) Patrick Leyba (Diamond Bar, CA) Antonio Diaz (Azusa, CA) Gilbert Madrid (Montirat, France) John Madrid (Albuquerque, NM) and Raymond Hernández Brando, who lived with, and cared for, her over the last many years. She is also survived by many great nieces and nephews.
During WWII, Lala served her country by joining the US Navy (1940–1942). She was stationed in Corpus Christi, Texas, where she worked in a military hospital and clinic. After the war, she attended cosmetology school in Albuquerque, NM. She went on to be the sole proprietor of Opal’s Beauty Shop in Lordsburg for nearly 40 years. After she retired, she would volunteer to do hairstyling for women in the local nursing home and at the mortuary.
In addition to her military service, Lala volunteered for various St. Joseph’s Church activities. She was a devout Catholic and held a deep faith in the power of prayer. She taught catechism helping young people prepare for their first holy communion. She had numerous comadres and compadres, and was godmother to many.
Lala also enjoyed crocheting and watching her nephew, Raymond compete in sports for the Lordsburg Mavericks. She was a master of premium squares and double word squares on the Scrabble board and loved counting those winning tiles while playing with family and friends alike.
A loving aunt, she regularly attended and remembered birthdays, graduations, and weddings.
A Rosary will be held at 9:00 AM on Saturday, November 13, 2021, at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Lordsburg, NM, followed by a mass at 10:00 AM. Inurnment will follow at Shakespeare Catholic Cemetery.
The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Disabled American Veterans.
Entrusted to the care of Baca’s Funeral Chapels and Mimbres Crematory. Exclusive provider for “Veterans & Family Memorial Care”. To sign the online guest book or to send a card, please visit our website at www.bacasfuneralchapels.com.
811 S. Gold Ave., Deming, NM 88030. Phone: 575.546.9671
To send flowers
to the family or plant a tree
in memory of Eulalia "Lala" Saldaña Hernandez, please visit our floral store.