Nina Luco

Emperatriz Nina Luco, age 78, passed away on Sunday, October 13, 2024 in Encinitas, California. Known to her family and friends as Nina, she was born Emperatriz Valentin Fernandez to Francisco and María Valentin on August 14, 1946 in the Panama Canal Zone. At the time of her birth, the Canal Zone was a United States territory, making Nina a natural-born citizen of the United States. Nina relocated with her family to Norwalk, California when she was 10 years old. She went on to attend school in Norwalk and graduated as the valedictorian of her high school class.

Nina attended the University of California, Los Angeles, earning a bachelor’s degree in Psychology. At UCLA, she met Juan Enrique Luco, whom she would eventually marry. In 1970, Nina moved with Enrique to his native country of Chile, where she worked for 3 years as an instructor in psychology at the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile.

Nina gave birth to her eldest son Nicolás in February 1973. That same year, she returned to the United States with her husband and baby boy. Nina and her family took up residence in Encinitas, California in 1974, where she would live for the rest of her life. In September 1980, Nina welcomed her youngest son Andrés.

Nina enjoyed a career as an elementary school teacher in the Del Mar, Encinitas, and San Marcos areas for 15 years before retiring due to illness. While working full-time and raising her two children, she earned a master’s degree in psychology at San Diego State University. Always a creative spirit, Nina took pleasure in beadwork, and, in the final years of her life, she wrote children’s books—all based on extensive research—that stressed themes of diligence, friendship, and safeguarding one’s mental health.

Despite struggling for over 35 years with Addison’s Disease and many other serious health challenges, Nina threw every fiber of her being into her family, her friends, and her work. She was a doting mother, a devoted wife, and a loving daughter to her mother María. Without fail, she sent birthday wishes to all the important people in her life. She strongly urged her family members to stay in touch with each other. She made every effort to bring people together by throwing numerous lunches, dinners, family gatherings, and parties. Her warmth, her wit, her intelligence, her strength, and her infectious smile will be dearly missed.

Nina is survived by her husband, Enrique Luco; her two sons, Nicolás and Andrés Luco; her two daughters-in-law, Lyndsey Pickering and Yanely G. Millan; her three brothers, Edmundo, Rodolfo, and Francisco Valentin; and her four grandchildren, Flavia G. Gonzalez, Isabelle Luco Brehm, Esteban Luco, and Noah Luco.

A visitation for Nina will be held Friday, November 8, 2024 from 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM at Eternal Hills Memorial Park, Mortuary and Crematory, 1999 El Camino Real, Oceanside, CA 92054.

A graveside service will occur Saturday, November 9, 2024 from 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM at Rose Hills Memorial Park and Mortuary, 3888 Workman Mill Rd, Whittier, CA 90601. The burial will take place at the Grandview Lawn. Upon entering Rose Hills, guests should check in at the booth at Gate #1. At check-in, the receptionist will ask guests to provide Nina’s name. Guests will then be provided with a map showing the location of the gravesite.

Before passing, Nina requested that instead of sending flowers, loved ones may send donations to the Christou Christian Church at 1705 Montgomery Dr., Vista, CA 92084.