Nellie V Calderon

Nellie Calderon was born June 17, 1924 in El Paso, TX and entered eternal life with Jesus on January 21, 2024 while joyfully resting in her beloved home. She defied all hardships to live to the age of 99, just 5 months before her 100th!

She grew up in El Paso, TX, graduating from Austin High School where she met her ‘Feo.’ She worked all her life in retail, retiring at age 65.

Her most notable achievement was raising 5 children, all college graduates, after the premature death of her husband.

Nellie married Alfredo Calderon while he served in the Army Air Force during WWII. After discharge, he started a flight school and crop-dusting firm, so she followed him to Brownsville and Nicaragua. He sadly lost his life in an accident in 1966, so Nellie moved her children back to El Paso. She was eventually renamed ‘Buela’ by her grandkids, probably Christine. She came from a large family of Refugio and Franciso Vasquez. She accepted Jesus as her Savior in early 1990 and started a prayer life that never ended, which included all family and friends by name – down thru to her great-great grandchildren. She remained faithful to her chosen parish, Our Lady of the Valley, and never stopped serving and supporting the altar Society.

She’s still remembered for telling her children in tense moments that she was ‘going to the mountains’. Later, she continuously reminded them to ‘put on their jacket’.

Mom/Buela expressed her love without words or hugs until her later life when the words and hugs flowed freely even with the regañadas. Her faith in Jesus grew as she prayed without ceasing.

She is preceded in death by her husband †Alfredo Calderon. She is survived by her children: Dolores Alvidrez (Pete), Martha Ortega (Robert), Alfredo Jr (Linda), Irene Gorman (John) and Mary Ellen Schoen (George). Grandchildren include Christine, Diana Woodard (Travis), Teresa Brunt (Robert), Melissa, Faith Rautter, Krista (Jon), Brian, Joshua, Dayton and Katy. Great grandchildren include Christian, Layla, Isaac, William, †Amanda, and Abigail. Great-great grandchildren are twins James and Jude Ortega. Nellie’s siblings are †Hopie, †Esther (†Joe), †Delia (†Alejandro), Katy, †Ginger (†Hugh), †Frank (†Cecilia), Roberto (Beatrice), and Socorro (Luis). Twin brother-in-law Ascencion Calderon, 100, survives her. She was blessed with many nieces, nephews and God children.

A visitation for Nellie will be held Monday February 5, 2024, from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM at Our Lady of the Valley Catholic Church 8600 Winchester Rd El Paso, TX 79907. A rosary will occur Monday February 5, 2024, from 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM at Our Lady of the Valley Catholic Church 8600 Winchester Rd El Paso, TX 79907. A funeral mass will occur Tuesday February 6, 2024, from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM at Our Lady of the Valley Catholic Church 8600 Winchester Rd El Paso, TX 79907. A graveside service will occur Tuesday February 6, 2024, from 1:30 PM to 2:00 PM with her husband at Ft Bliss National Cemetery 5200 Fred Wilson Ave. El Paso, TX 79906.