Helen Lopez

Elena Helen Lopez passed away peacefully surrounded by her loving family on October 18, 2014 at Friendship Village, Hospice of the Valley in Tempe, AZ at the age of 81. Helen was born on January 9, 1933 in Solomonville, AZ to Pablo Ruiz Juarez and Bonifacia Gonzalez Juarez who were part of one of the early pioneer families in Solomon. Helen married Thomas L. Lopez of Solomonville in 1948. She worked for the Safford Head Start program for 25 years, retiring in 1999. A lifelong member of Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church in Solomon, she was one of the Parishioners responsible for establishing both the Religion Education Program and the Catholic Youth Education Organization (CYO) in the early 1960s. She contributed largely to the Solomon Building Fund Committee by organizing and cooking dinners alongside the other ladies of the church, selling plates of food and holding raffles and whatever else needed to be done to raise money to build the new Parish Hall of the church. She was a 4-H leader to Solomon 5th and 6th grade girls 4- H members teaching them to bake in her home in the early 60's. Helen was involved with the Cursillo Christianity movement (de colores) in the 80's. Helen is survived by her children; Thomas J. (Yolanda) Lopez, Harold (Jenetta) Colvin, Richard J. (Frances) Lopez, Gregory (Michele) Mather and Victor Paul (Theresa) Lopez, 11 grandchildren that she dearly loved; Jimmy Lopez, Jennifer Luzania, Paul Andrew Colvin, Matthew Colvin, Jonathon Colvin, Richard S. Lopez, Eric Lopez, Amy Lopez-Heil, Logan Mather, Kimberlee Scheller and Frances Lopez, 7 great-grandchildren, sister Jenny Gonzales and brother Gene Juarez. Helen was preceded in death by her parents; Pablo and Bonifacia Juarez, her husband of 59 years; Thomas Luna Lopez, brothers; Damacio, Pablo and Anselmo Juarez, sisters; Elvira Arroyos and Brijida Polanco. We would like to express our sincere gratitude to Hospice of the Valley and the Villa Ocotillo Assisted Living staff for the exceptional care given to our mother. A Viewing will be held on Thursday, October 23, 2014 at 9:00 a.m. with the Rosary will being led at 10:00 a.m. followed by the Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00 a.m. at Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish in Solomon, AZ. Interment will be in the Solomon Cemetery.