Eliza Padilla Robles

It is with sadness that we say goodbye to our beloved sister, aunt, cousin, godmother, and friend, Eliza Padilla Robles. Eliza entered eternal life on Thanksgiving morning, November 26, 2015. Eliza was born February 27, 1916 to Refugio Robles and Isabel Padilla Robles in Las Cruces, NM in the Mesquite Historic Neighborhood; the city's original town site. Eliza was one of the oldest living residents in her neighborhood, having lived in the same house for almost her entire life. When her parents bought the house there were originally only three rooms. In time rooms were added and it became the home it is today. We loved to hear her tell us stories about how the neighborhood was in the "old days", like the windmill near her home that pumped water, the arroyos in the area that flooded when it rained. She enjoyed reminiscing about all the neighbors she grew up with, most of who have also passed away. She attended the Loretto Academy her first two years of school and would describe the convent often telling us about the nuns that taught there. Eliza retired from White Sands Missile Range, after having worked many years at the base PX. She was there the day President Kennedy came to visit and speak at WSMR base. In her younger days she loved to travel and visited many places around the United States and Mexico. In her 99 years of life she saw many changes and loved to talk about history and especially about Las Cruces and her family history. It makes us sad not only to lose her, but also the last direct first-hand knowledge of our family history and our personal "library". Eliza also enjoyed reading, cooking, and sewing. She was very knowledgeable about plants and home remedies. She was generous with her knowledge and always happy to learn new things. She often listened to talk radio and kept up with current events. She is survived by her brother Jose D. Robles, her nieces Rebecca Castillo (Alex) and Mary Helen Trejo (Joe), her brother-in-law Guillermo Aceves, and a special goddaughter, Ethel Mae Fox. She is also survived by a very large extended family of nieces, nephews, cousins, several godchildren, alongside many good friends and neighbors. Eliza was preceded in death by her parents, her siblings Daniel Robles, Esperanza Padilla, Pablo Robles, and Genevieve Aceves. Serving as pall bearers will be Johnny Castillo Jr., Benjamin Aceves, Jose F. Rigales, Joe C. Trejo, Rachel Ochoa and Bernadette Castillo. Honorary pallbearers include her many nephews and nieces. Visitation is scheduled at 6p.m. on Tuesday, December 1, 2015 at Getz Funeral Home followed by a Prayer Vigil at 7p.m. A Funeral Mass will be held at 11a.m. on Wednesday, December 2, 2015 at St. Genevieve Catholic Church with interment to follow at St. Joseph's Catholic Cemetery. PDF Printable Version