Dolores was preceded in death by her parents Joe Villa, Sr. and Elvira Labrado Villa, her brothers Ricardo George Villa, Joe Villa, Jr. (Guadalupe Silex Villa, dec.), and sister, Bertha Alicia Villa.
Dolores is survived by her two sisters, Velia Villa Canales (David Manuel Canales, dec.), Vera Villa (Guillermo Ordonez), and brother, Edward Arthur Villa (Olivia Caro Villa), her daughters, Laura Iris (Torres) Favela (Oscar Erasmo Favela) and Carol Rebecca Torres, and grandchildren, Andres Oscar Favela, Benjamin “Jamin” Gabriel Favela, Nicolas Fontes, Gloria Libertad “Liberty” Diaz (Luis Diaz), Caleb S. Unkrich and great-grandchildren, Josiah Patrick Ezekiel Unkrich, Oscar Andres Favela, Eulices Benjamin Favela, and Lukas Amadeus Diaz, and many nieces and nephews from El Paso, Texas.
Born on March 18, 1932 and raised in El Paso, Texas, Dolores graduated in 1950 from El Paso High School and moved to Los Angeles in the mid 1950’s. She married Andres Rodriguez Torres and they divorced several years later. Dolores understood the importance of service and education and served as PTA President and school volunteer at Laura’s and Carol’s elementary school, Huntington Drive Elementary. Dolores mentored as a troop leader for Laura’s Brownie and Girl Scout troops and always brought Carol along to participate in scout arts and crafts and fun field trips around Los Angeles. Dolores later worked for Los Angeles Unified School District as a school aide at San Fernando Elementary where she supported students with special needs. Her devotion to education inspired her to pursue a college degree at California State University, Northridge, and she achieved a Bachelor’s Degree in education. She taught bilingual Spanish- English Transitional Kindergarten and Kindergarten at San Fernando Elementary School for more than 20 years until she retired. Dolores’ family was always her priority both in El Paso and in California where lovely festive family gatherings were surrounded by beautiful music, delicious food, dancing, singing, movie nights or cheering on during sporting events. Her San Fernando home was her pride and joy where she hosted a festive Thanksgiving and Christmas environment every year for Laura’s and Carol’s families and most importantly, for her grandchildren all of whom she adored. She tenderly created beautiful gardens that surrounded her home and was especially proud of her huge avocado tree where many group family pictures were taken. Dolores loved music, reading, watching classic movies, going to museums, and walking for exercise. In fact, Dolores received two 1st place walking trophies for her age group of over 70 years! Lastly, our family would like to extend our deepest gratitude to the amazing caretakers: Nicolas Fontes, Josiah Patrick Ezekiel Unkrich, Alejandra “Alex” Munoz, Marita Garcia, Lubia Ceja, Jessica Torres, Thayla Ramirez, and Sophia Moncayo who provided dignity, love and compassion for our mother and grandmother.
Please join our family as we honor our mother and grandmother on August 11, 2025 for the Rosary at 6:30pm at Funeraria del Angel Central 3839 Montana Ave, El Paso, Texas 79903 and August 12, 2025 for the Funeral Mass at 10:00am at Guardian Angel Church 3021 Frutas Ave, El Paso, Texas, 79907, gravesite services to follow at Mt. Carmel Cemetery 401 S. Zaragoza Rd., El Paso, Texas 79907.
Pallbearers: Andres Oscar Favela, Nicolas Fontes, Benjamin “Jamin” Favela, Caleb S. Unkrich, Oscar Erasmo Favela, Josiah Patrick Ezekiel Unkrich, Edward Arthur Villa, Oscar Joseph Aponte, David Ralph Canales. Honorary pallbearers: Oscar Andres Favela, Eulices Benjamin Favela, Lukas Amadeus Diaz.
