Belen Rico

Belen Rico, 85, of Maricopa, Arizona, passed away peacefully on May 31, 2026. She was born on June 3, 1940, in Villa Hidalgo, Sonora. Belen was raised in Agua Prieta, where she met and married her beloved husband, Ascencion Rico (Rico). Together, they started a family in Douglas, Arizona, before making Maricopa their permanent home in the late 1970s.

Belen was woman of immense grace & style, loving, and kind. Alongside her late husband, Rico, she was one half of a beautiful, inseparable partnership; where you saw one, you always saw the other. A dedicated wife and mother, Belen also worked within the Maricopa community, cleaning local homes, offices, and schools.

She was an exceptional hostess who expressed her love through food, famously keeping her refrigerator full for any unexpected visitor. Her tamales were a Christmas tradition to many people. She delighted in the simple things: a good sunrise, birds singing, and sharing conversation over a meal.

Belen cherished her titles of wife, mother, suegra and abuela. She is survived by her three daughters, Noemi (Tony) Nieves, Elisandra (Mark) Valencia, and Susanna (Raul) Quezada. She has 7 grandchildren: Ray (Kenzie) Nieves, Caitlin Nieves who preceded her in death, Angel (Vallory) Lerma, Joey (Galilea) Rico, Yulissa Quezada, Yaneli (Chance) Strawderman and Sebastian Quezada. Also 10 great-grandchildren: Remy, Rayden, Alivia and Abigail Nieves, Adolph, Audrey, Teddy and Tilian Lerma, Ascencion, and Moses Rico

She will be greeted in heaven by her husband, Ascencion, and her granddaughter, Caitlin Nieves. Belen will be deeply missed, but her family takes comfort in knowing she and Rico are together once more.