Ofelia Vigil Madrid

Ofelia was born Aug. 16, 1936 in Doctor Arroyo, Nuevo Leon, Mexico, where she spent her early years. As a daughter of a migrant worker, her family would move throughout the Southwest, until they finally settled in Nogales, Sonora, which she considered her hometown.

Ofelia lost both her parents in her early 20s and would later immigrate to the United States in the late 1960s to be a bookkeeper at a Tucson pharmacy. Valdemar Madrid would later search every pharmacy in Tucson, after having met Ofelia at a party in Nogales, until he found her and asked her for a date. They'd marry less than a year later in 1972 and would raise their son and daughter in Mammoth, Ariz. before relocating to Tucson in 2011.

Ofelia was a lovingly strong woman with a kind soul, who devoted her entire life to family. She was a confidant and counselor to many family members, who knew she would keep their secret or offer gentle advice on a path forward. She enjoyed visiting yard sales and thrift shops, which she called the specialty stores. She adored spoiling and spending time with her granddaughters, Anissa and Ariana. She loved elephants, birds and Dean Martin and will be deeply missed.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Valdemar Madrid; daughter Maria Guadalupe; and parents Paulino and Maria de los Angeles Vigil. She is survived by son Antonio Madrid (Alyssa), granddaughters Anissa and Ariana Madrid; and daughter Ofelia (Nathan) Gonzalez.

The Madrid family wishes to express a heartfelt thank you to those that have shared their love, condolences and prayers. Arrangements have been entrusted to East Lawn Palms Mortuary and Cemetery in Tucson.

• Visitation for Ofelia will be from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Aug 23, 2023, with a Rosary service beginning at 6 p.m. at East Lawn Palms Mortuary, 5801 East Grant Road, Tucson, AZ 85712.

• Funeral mass will be held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Aug. 24, 2023 at St. Thomas the Apostle Roman Catholic Parish, 5150 N. Valley View Rd., Tucson, AZ 85718.

• Burial will follow at noon, Thursday, Aug. 24, 2023 at East Lawn Palms Cemetery, 5801 East Grant Road, #C, Tucson, AZ 85712.

Friends and family are invited to a small reception at the mortuary following burial services.