Amalia A. Rigales

Our beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, mother-in-law, sister, tia, friend, Amalia Aragon Rigales, 78, peacefully left this earth surrounded by her loving family at home; she wanted to be at "la casa". She left to join our beloved father, Emilio Sr., where they can now both be with our heavenly father in the big "Casino" in the sky where they can play together forever, where every machine is guaranteed to win the jackpot and every scratch-off ticket and bingo card is a winner. Amalia was born in a small village, "Rancho de Los Garcias" near Meoqui, Chihuahua, Mexico, on October 15, 1930, to Candelario and Josefa Aragon Garcia and became an angel in heaven on Wednesday, June 17, 2009. Amalia flew with Angel's wings to heaven, 18 weeks after her beloved husband, Emilio. Although it hurt to see our mother join our father, our solace is that they are now both happy together. Even though we are all deeply brokenhearted, time and space will never keep their spirits and memory far from our hearts. Amalia is one of our Heavenly Father's beloved spirits and we feel so blessed to have had her as a Mother and Grandmother, and to have shared the precious love and moments we will always treasure. She will forever be in our hearts. Amalia will always be remembered for how she dedicated her life to her children and grandchildren; this great love was evident to all around her. Amalia always believed that her greatest legacy was her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. The smile she gave each one of us upon walking in the room will always be cherished and a memory carried on in our hearts. Her generous heart filled her home with love, family and friends, including an attitude that there was always room for one more (especially at the kitchen table). Her meals never failed to satisfy, those familiar smells when walking through her front door always prepared to warm us for the big opportunity to become overly full (and gain those extra pounds). If Amalia did not have your favorite meal cooking on the stove, she would gladly make it for you. You would always hear her ask you "Tienes ambre?" (Are you hungry?) Mom loved to see us eat plate after plate. Amalia's homemade flour tortillas were legendary and always were a favorite upon generation to generation. She was well known for sharing her tortillas with everyone, especially the neighborhood kids. Everyone loved them! With butter or peanut butter! How they remembered her and her tortillas even when they were all grown up! In Amalia's spare time (after leaving her kitchen), she would spend time playing bingo or spending time at the casino with her beloved Emilio and family. We will never forget her favorite saying: " B - 1", or the sound of the slot machine's handle when she pulled it. Amalia leaves all her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren with the knowledge that they were truly loved and her love for the Lord. Amalia is survived by her children: Nellie Rigales Vigil and husband Ramon, Emilio Rigales Jr., and partner Socorro, daughter-in-law Filomena Rigales, Yolanda Rigales Diaz and husband Mario, and Linda Rigales; her step-children: Mary Helen Trejo and husband Joe, Jose "Freddie" Rigales, her grandchildren: Ernestina Vigil -Fischer and husband Sean, Ramon Rigales Vigil, Mario A. Rigales Diaz and wife Jovanna, Emilio Rigales III, Luciano Rigales and wife Adrianna, Santiago Rigales Vigil, Eduardo D. Rigales Diaz, Antonia Amalia Rigales, Marcos T. Rigales Diaz; her great- grandchildren: Eduardo D. Diaz, Jr., Jazmin Denae Guzman-Diaz, Jeremiah Hinojosa Vigil, Jocelin Raelynn Vigil, and Xavier Mario Diaz; Her sisters: Esperanza Ontiveros, Paula Melendez, and Julia Aragon; And many nieces, nephews, cousins, and extended family. Amalia was preceded in death by her loving husband, Emilio. Her infant son, Eduardo Daniel, her loving parents, Josefa and Candelario; and siblings: Manuel, Alfonso, and Avelardo Aragon and sisters Victorina Garcia and Soledad Salom. A visitation will be held from 5 to 7 pm on Friday, June 26, 2009 at Getz Funeral Home Chapel where the Prayer Vigil will follow at 7 pm. The Funeral Liturgy will be at 9 am on Saturday, June 27, at Our Lady of Purification Catholic Church, 5525 Cristo Rey in Dona Ana with Fr. Miguel Macaya, officiating. The Rite of Committal and burial will follow at Hillcrest Memorial Gardens Cemetery. Pallbearers will be grandsons Ramon and Santiago Vigil, Mario, Daniel and Marcos Diaz, Emilio III and Luciano Rigales. Honorary Pallbearers will be her granddaughters, Ernestina Vigil-Fischer, and Antonia Amalia Rigales. PDF Printable Version