Vilma N. Palencia

Vilma N. Palencia was born in Puerto Barrios, Izabal, Guatemala on March 29, 1935. She was the third beloved child of Maria Portillo de Duarte and Guillermo Duarte. She made her transition at the age of 80 on August 26, 2015 and is survived by her five children Guillermo A. Palencia, Roland Palencia, Nidia Palencia, Rod Palencia, Vilma L. Palencia; her sister Lilian Paniagua and her two brothers Mario Bonilla and Rene Bonilla. She is also survived by 17 grandchildren, 4 greatgrandchildren and 19 nephews and nieces. Her family was her sole dedication and her passion up to her very last day.

She was a matriarch, a beautiful woman and a life force in her own right. She always lent a helping hand to anyone who needed it, values that she instilled in her children and grandchildren. She was courageous and a rebel. In the early 1950s, in her small town of Puerto Barrios, she was one of the first women to wear pants and ride a motorcycle, at a time when women where not allowed to do either. She believed that bravery can make anything happen and instilled the same in others.

She was an entrepreneur, and she and her husband Guillermo built the “Panadería San José,” a vibrant and successful bakery business. She later immigrated to Los Angeles, California and brought her five children to live with her after the tragic death of her husband, who fought for democracy and freedom in Guatemala.

In Los Angeles, she worked at many service jobs, sometimes up to three at a time to be able to support her family. After receiving her Nurse Assistant’s diploma, she was a long-standing employee of the Francisco Bravo, M.D. clinic, the namesake of the Francisco Bravo Magnet Medical School located on the LAC+USC campus that now graduates cohorts of young Latino physicians. She had many outstanding qualities, but one stands above others, and that was her sharp mind and wit. She could instantly cite the birthdates and other key dates of every one of her seven siblings, children, grandchildren, greatgranchildren, in-laws and just about every nephew and niece, credit card numbers, bank accounts, including those bank accounts closed for months. She could add and multiply large numbers in her head. Although her mind was sharp up to her last awaken minute, her heart grew bigger with deep love for her family and for those around her as she completed the final chapters of her life.

Key Milestones

1935 - Born March 29th.

1939 –Her father Guillermo Duarte passes away

1954 -Marries Guillermo Alfonso Palencia Abadía

1955 –Birth of her first son Guillermo Aníbal

1956 –Birth of daugther María del Rosario (deceased)

1957 –Birth of son Roland

1960 –Birth of daughter Nidia

1961 –Birth of son Roderico

1963 -Birth of daughter Vilma Lorena

1970 –Immigrates to Los Angeles, California

1971 -Mother María Portillo de Duarte passes away

1971 –Husband Guillermo Alfonso passes away

1972-1974 – All her children immigrate to the U.S. with the help of her sister Dora (deceased), friends Alfredo García (deceased) and Stuart Lubin (deceased).

1987- Buys her home in Los Angeles with her sister Dora.

2015- Celebrates her 80th. Birthday sorrounded by her adoring family in Valencia, CA

2015 –Makes her transition.

Obituario de Vilma N. Palencia

Vilma N. Palencia nació en Puerto Barrios, Izabal, Guatemala el 29 de marzo de 1935. Fue la tercera hija de María Portillo de Duarte y Guillermo Duarte. Ella hizo su transición a la edad de 80 años el 26 de agosto del 2015. Le sobreviven sus cinco hijos e hijas Guillermo A. Palencia, Roland Palencia, Nidia Palencia, Rod Palencia, Vilma L. Palencia ; su hermana Lilian Paniagua y sus dos hermanos Mario Bonilla y René Bonilla . También le sobreviven 17 nietos, 4 bisnietos y 19 sobrinos y sobrinas. Su familia fue su dedicación y su pasión hasta su último día.

Ella era una mujer hermosa y una fuerza de vida en sí. Siempre ayudaba a cualquier persona que lo necesitaba, valores que inculcó en sus hijos y nietos. Era valiente y también con un sentido de rebeldía. A principios de la década de 1950, en su pequeña ciudad de Puerto Barrios, fue una de las primeras mujeres que uso pantalones y manejaba motocicleta, en un tiempo en que las mujeres no les permitían hacer ninguna de las dos cosas. Ella decía que la valentía hacia todo posible e inculcaba lo mismo en otros.