Cecilia Z. Bachicha

Cecilia Bachicha, 91, passed away peacefully in her sleep on Sunday, January 8, 2023.

She is preceded in death by her husband Fred Bachicha, mother Carmelita Morales, father Santiago Zamora, brother Eleno, sisters: Lala De La O and Christella Vallo.

She is survived by her three sons: Marty, Michael and (Paula Miller), Eddie (Gerri), nine grandchildren: Aaron, Annette, Dan (Suzie), Sierra Morrell (Corey), Jon Franco (Rhonda), Marcus (Amanda), Kaleo, Joseph Moquino, Kathryn Depree (Jasmine Vialpando-Dupree), great-grandchildren: Kailani Franco, Bryan Bachicha, Baillee Bachicha, Cedar Morrell, Colt Morrell, Santi Valtierra, sisters: Josephine Padilla, Frances Padilla, Dulcinea (Candie) Herrera.

Cecilia was born in Manzano, New Mexico on July 10,1931. Cecilia spent her childhood in Manzano. She spent her early teen years in Santa Fe and Albuquerque as a nanny with the Salazar family. She attended Washington Middle School and returned to Manzano where she attended Mountainair High School. She moved back to Albuquerque at the age of 19.

In 1953 she married Fred Bachicha on Valentine’s Day at Sacred Heart Church in Barelas. Their loving and wonderful marriage lasted 67 years.

Cecilia worked primarily as a housewife & devoted mother to her three young sons. Afterwards, she worked a variety of jobs (including a ten-year stint at Sunbell) to assist with providing for the family. The bulk of her earnings went to funding her sons’ educations. She was also instrumental in supporting  Fred’s shift in career-path as he attended UNM to become a school teacher.

Cecilia Bachicha was a devoted and adored wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister and daughter. She was always willing to help others and always there with unconditional love to give her boys motherly support.

Cecilia was a devout Catholic. She and Fred were actively involved with the Knights of Columbus. Fred and Cecilia had a lifetime of precious friendships through this fraternity. Cecilia was very involved with many Church activities, including Senior Progams & Catholic Daughters. Her hobbies included exercise such as water aerobics and socializing with her siblings and many friends. She also enjoyed bowling, preparing meals for the family, traveling, dancing rancheras, and taking walks with Fred. She also loved to attend her grandchildren's sporting events.

Cecilia's Life Celebration will begin with a Visitation and Rosary on Thursday, January 19, 2023 at 5:00 pm at Reflections Chapel located at 2400 Washington St. NE, 87110. Rosary will be recited at 6:30 pm. Final Viewing will take place on Friday, January 20, 2023 at 9:30 am at Queen of Heaven Catholic Church located at 5311 Phoenix Ave NE, 87110. Mass will begin at 10:00 am. Cecilia will be laid to rest beside her loving Fred following the Mass at Mount Calvary Cemetery located at 1900 Edith Blvd NE, 87102. Reception will follow at the Knights of Columbus Lamy Council Hall located at 2800 San Mateo Blvd NE, 87110.

Eulogy from son Michael:

In the Bible, there are various books that describe all of the Kings of Israel from Biblical times. Without going into a lot of detail I can say that the Bible describes some of the kings as good and others as let’s just say “not so good’. What I find interesting is that in many of the descriptions of these ancient leaders the mother is always mentioned. It is a clear message that if the King was good, his mom taught him about God and if he wasn’t, his mom probably didn’t care much about God and didn’t bother to teach her son.

My Mom taught us about God. By the time we were five years old, all three brothers had to learn the Our Father, the Hail Mary, the Glory Be, and The Act of Contrition. We were enrolled in catechism classes and my mom made sure we received all of the sacraments.

She taught us the value of hard work also. On Mondays through Fridays, we had to wake up early to go to school. On Saturdays, it was “rise and shine” to do chores such as vacuuming and pulling weeds. She would prop a chair up against the sink so that as a little child, we could reach the sink to do the dishes. And don’t miss any spots on the pans! She will find them and make you do it over. We could finally sleep in on Sundays. NOT! Time to get up and go to mass!

She didn’t have any problems being direct and telling the truth. Most recently, in her paralyzed condition she either didn’t speak at all or would speak in Spanish only. Once, I tried to speak to her in Spanish. She replied with the first English words that I had heard in months. “Your Spanish is bad! I can’t understand you!”

She influenced so many people. You just heard what a wonderful grandmother and great-grandmother that she was. She was also a good daughter, sister, and mother.

Here are some comments from my Aunt Josephine:

From childhood until I married, Cecilia was a Mother figure to me.  She gave me a home ….and emotional and material support.

After marriage she was inclusive of my husband and boys.  Her friends are our friends.  For many years, we attended Knights of Columbus activities, bowled, traveled, played poker, visited, and shared our lives.

Any of my 6 siblings, Grandchildren, nieces, nephews & friends can share their own account of how they were made to feel included and special. She served, loved, and touched them with her unique warmth, and love.

She was beautiful inside & out and was attentive to her appearance and her home.  Her first set of tasks each day was to put on her make-up, brew the coffee and tune the radio to 89.1.  She had her hair styled weekly. She felt her glasses enhanced her appearance. She bought good shoes. Several years back she distributed her jewelry amongst sisters, grand-daughters, nieces, and daughter-in-laws.

She kept a secret stash of spending money. Some was for the casino. However, most was for sharing with her Grandchildren and her sons (whom she often referred to as her “darlings”).  She summoned them under the pretense saying "I have a card for you".  They knew it was money. But for her she simply wanted to " see, hug, and bless them?". She could have mailed a check but that’s not what mothers do.

Our hearts a heavy at this time for our loss.

My brother Marty concurred with Aunt Josephine. Since we were always on a tight budget with Dad, mom would work so that she always had money to buy us nice clothes for school, had money for vacations, and to give us spending money.  When we were older, she used that money to fund our education.  She loved her boys and kept us in line.  She died on Epiphany Sunday, the Day of the Lord’s Manifestation.

My brother Eddie stated that Mom was a devoted and adored wife, mother, grandmother, sister and daughter. She was the heart and soul of our family. She was a wonderful cook who would love to prepare meals for the whole family. She was a devoted catholic, always willing to help others and always there with unconditional love to give us motherly support.  Mom enjoyed bowling, traveling, dancing rancheras, going to the movies, taking walks around the neighborhood with dad and enjoyed the evening relaxing in the back yard.  She also loved to attend her grandchildren's sporting events

Eddie mentioned unconditional love. The other evening, I was having a conversation about the unconditional love of Mothers with a friend of mine. My friend said that losing a mother is especially hard because she is the one person in this world that you can count on to love you unconditionally. Even prisoners and drug addicts are loved by their mothers. Of course, God loves us unconditionally. But a real warm mother with loving eyes and warm hugs is here in the flesh and on earth. It is a unique and special type of loss. It has been hard for us but as we have prepared for this funeral the memories of her before the stroke have become more and more vivid and a cause for indescribable rejoicing.

I told a white lie a little earlier. My mom actually did speak a lot of English during the time of her stroke induced condition. They were the same words she said to us all of our life. “I love you! I love my hitos!”

Our mother is in Heaven. She is going straight to heaven and will bypass the purgatory that us Catholics believe in.  We believe that her impeccable life and all of her suffering will ensure that. She loves Jesus and will be with Him. And of course, she will be with her Freddie.

Our beautiful New Mexico landscape is decorated with chamiza, purple sage, pinion trees, and of course, Sunflowers. When we were children our mom used to tell us about all of the Sunflowers in the village of Manzano where she grew up. She said that as a little girl, she would play “He loves me, he loves me not” as she picked off the petals one by one. Ever since she told that story, I would always think of her when I would see an array of sunflowers brightening up the various panoramas of New Mexico land.

Mom believed that Jesus is the Resurrection and the Life.

1st Corinthians 15 reads “Where O death is your victory? Where O Death is your sting?”

The Amplified Bible 1st Corinthians 15:42

“So it is with the resurrection of the dead. The [human] body that is sown is perishable and mortal, it is raised imperishable and immortal.”

It’s winter and the Sunflowers are buried in the ground patiently waiting to sprout up in the spring and bring beauty to our lives again.

Just like our Mom.

Eulogy from grandson Dan:

The Greatest Women we’ve ever known:

37 years ago, you became a nana for the first time, becoming the greatest woman we’ve ever known.

Picking US UP FROM SCHOOL AND TAKING US OUT FOR “A TREAT” THAT’S THE GREATEST WOMAN WE’VE EVER KNOWN.

COOKING IN THE KITCHEN EVERY NIGHT AND MAKING SURE DINNER WAS ALWAYS ON THE TABLE PROMPTLY AT 5:30, THAT’S THE GREATEST WOMAN WE’VE EVER KNOWN.

ATTENDING ALL OF OUR GAMES, COMPETITIONS, GRADUATIONS, WEDDINGS,  AND ANY OTHER GATHERINGS OF IMPORTANCE, THAT’S THE GREATEST WOMAN WE’VE EVER KNOWN.

Teaching us the value of hard work and pushing us to achieve our dreams, that’s the greatest woman we’ve ever known.

Calling us once a week asking us why we haven’t called her or haven’t stopped by the house, that’s the greatest woman we’ve ever known.

Saying that you didn’t want to host the family gathering because you we’re too old to cook and clean anymore, but being the first one to show up and still cook and clean, that’s the greatest woman we’ve ever known

After your stroke, when we all thought you we’re going to die, being strong enough to wake up and tell us you loved us, wishing us happy holidays, and fighting to continue to show us your love, that’s the greatest woman we’ve ever known.

Most importantly, teaching us about and instilling the love of Christ, that’s the greatest woman we’ve ever known

Nana, you were, truly, the greatest woman that all of your grandchildren and great grandchildren have ever known: we were truly blessed to have you in our lives for so many years. We are thankful that you are no longer in pain and that you are in heaven with Jesus and our grandpa, your Freddie. The lessons you taught us and the memories we made with you will remain with us forever. While we are sad, we must be thankful and celebrate the life of the greatest woman we’ve ever known.