Annette went to be with the Lord on December 22, 2023. She went peacefully surrounded by her beloved family in El Paso, Texas. She was born on December 15th, 1960, the daughter of Guillermo Evaristo Avila and Isabel Lightbourn Avila. She lived her entire life in El Paso. She married the love of her life Roldan in 1991.
She graduated from Coronado High School in 1979 and then went to UTEP and graduated with a degree in Business. She was a member of the Chi Omega sorority. She was a lifelong restauranteur, working alongside her grandfather, father, and her siblings. She then took over Avila’s Mexican Food as an owner with her brother Andy. She was an active member of the Texas and El Paso restaurant associations.
Her beautiful smile radiated despite the pain. Most didn’t know she was suffering from a five-year battle with cancer. Annette was the kind of person that no matter how sick or tired she was she would take care of everyone else first. She provided smiles and greeted everyone cheerfully whether it was a lifelong customer or the first time you walked through her door. Annette was an admired businesswoman and mentored many employees who loved her dearly.
She had a passion for collecting Madame Alexander dolls. She loved her dogs, especially her last dog Tinkerbell, the colors blue or purple, and tie-dyed clothes. Her destination of choice was always Las Vegas.
She was proceeded in death by her father, Guillermo “Papa” and her grandparents, Evaristo and Carmen Avila, Eduardo and Vicenta Lightbourn, her aunts and uncles Teresa Bombach, Eddie Lightbourn, Delphina Hernandez, Tony Lightbourn, Gloria Chavez, and David Lightbourn. She is survived by her mother Isabel “Mema” her husband, Roldan “Moose”, her boys, Roldan and Anthony, her brothers William (Carol Avila) and Andrew and her sister Amanda (Matt Ward) her niece Kristina, her nephews James, Thomas, and Lucas and her two aunts Bertha Lightbourn and Stella Sperbeck, and many, many cousins.
She loved Christmas and was always daddy’s girl and she went back in daddy’s arms just in time for Christmas, she is now one of the brightest stars in our sky. Her deep faith in God carried her and her family through the hardest of times. She will be greatly missed, especially by her boys who meant everything to her. They were her world. Annette, we love you more and are going to miss you so much!
Visitation will be held on Sunday, January 7, 2024, from 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM with Rosary at 6:00 PM at Martin Funeral Home West, 128 N. Resler Dr., El Paso, TX 79912. Funeral Mass will be Monday, January 8, 2024, at 10:30 a.m. at St. Matthew Catholic Church, 400 W Sunset Rd, El Paso, TX 79912. Graveside Service will follow at 12:00 p.m. at Memory Gardens of the Valley Cemetery, 4900 McNutt Rd, Santa Teresa, NM 88008.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.MartinFuneralHomeWest.com for the Chavez family.
