Hortensia Magdaleno

February 9, 1941 – June 29, 2026

We gather today to honor and celebrate the life of our mother — a woman born in Mapimi, Durango, Mexico, who carried within her a quiet, unbreakable strength from the very beginning.

She lived her early years across the landscapes of northern Mexico — Mapimí, Ojinaga, Chihuahua, and Juárez — before making her home in El Paso, Texas. It was there she raised five children, loved eleven grandchildren, and built a life entirely on her own terms.

A Life Shaped by Strength

Her early life was marked by pain and hardship and yet, she never let bitterness take root. She was the proverbial optimist, always offering her children words of wisdom, always urging them toward change, toward something better. She turned suffering into counsel, and counsel into love.

A Creator and a Collector

She was a creator — a seamstress whose hands never rested. She decorated her home with tiny storybook houses until an entire miniature village filled her big window, a world she built piece by piece. She would say she didn't like Christmas, and then put up a tree in every room and spend thirty days after the holiday hunting the sales. That was her — full of beautiful contradictions.

She had televisions in every room, including the bathrooms — and none of us ever figured out why. She loved her garden, even though most of her plants thrived for about thirty days past the warranty period. She saved soft drink coupons like treasures. She filled shelves eleven feet high and thirty feet long with cloth remnants. And in her small freezer, she kept Christmas tamales from one year to the next — some with multiple ice-age freezer rings to prove it.

A Determined Woman

In her mid-sixties, when most people slow down, she started investing in rental property. She had a dream: to one day collect rent instead of paying it. And she did it. She loved to brag about her Big Lots finds and her casino nights. She became a United States citizen late in life, and though she was indifferent about the process, she was deeply proud she got it done.

Her only regret was never having learned to drive. She didn't like to travel or eat at restaurants — probably because she was an excellent cook and saw no reason to settle for less than her own kitchen.

A Kind and Faithful Heart

She was kind. She was generous. She helped her tenants, her friends, and her family — even when a few took advantage of her goodness. She loved her children fiercely and worried most about her two sons who lived closest to her.

She was a devoted Catholic. You could set your watch by her daily readings at her kitchen table. She had only good things to say or nothing at all.

A Peaceful Farewell

She died peacefully, on her own terms — as she lived. She is with her sisters and her family now, in a place where there is no more pain, no more worry.

We love you; we miss you and will carry you with us — always.

Rest in peace.

Un Elogio para Nuestra Madre

9 de febrero de 1941 – 29 de junio de 2026

Nos reunimos hoy para honrar y celebrar la vida de nuestra madre — una mujer nacida en Mapimí, Durango, México, que llevó dentro de sí una fuerza callada e inquebrantable desde el principio.

Vivió sus primeros años entre los paisajes del norte de México — Mapimí, Ojinaga, Chihuahua y Juárez — antes de hacer su hogar en El Paso, Texas. Fue allí donde crió a cinco hijos, amó a once nietos y construyó una vida enteramente bajo sus propias condiciones.

Una Vida Forjada por la Fortaleza

Su vida temprana estuvo marcada por el dolor y la adversidad y sin embargo, nunca dejó que la amargura echara raíces. Ella era la eterna optimista, siempre ofreciendo a sus hijos palabras de sabiduría, siempre impulsándolos hacia el cambio, hacia algo mejor. Convirtió el sufrimiento en consejo, y el consejo en amor.

Una Creadora y Coleccionista

Era una creadora — una costurera cuyas manos nunca descansaban. Decoraba su hogar con pequeñas casitas de cuento hasta que una aldea entera en miniatura llenaba su gran ventana, un mundo que construyó pieza por pieza. Decía que no le gustaba la Navidad, y luego ponía un árbol en cada cuarto y pasaba treinta días después de las fiestas cazando las ofertas. Así era ella — llena de hermosas contradicciones.

Tenía televisores en cada habitación, incluyendo los baños — y ninguno de nosotros jamás entendió por qué. Amaba su jardín, aunque la mayoría de sus plantas sobrevivían unos treinta días después del período de garantía. Guardaba cupones de refrescos como tesoros. Llenó estantes de once pies de alto y treinta pies de largo con retazos de tela. Y en su pequeño congelador, guardaba tamales navideños de un año al siguiente — algunos con múltiples anillos de era glacial como prueba.

Una Mujer Determinada

A mediados de sus sesenta, cuando la mayoría de la gente desacelera, ella comenzó a invertir en propiedades de renta. Tenía un sueño: algún día cobrar renta en vez de pagarla. Y lo logró. Le encantaba presumir sus hallazgos en Big Lots y sus noches de casino. Se hizo ciudadana de los Estados Unidos ya en sus últimos años, y aunque le era indiferente el proceso, estaba muy orgullosa de haberlo logrado.

Su único arrepentimiento fue no haber aprendido a manejar. No le gustaba viajar ni ir a restaurantes — probablemente porque era una excelente cocinera y no veía razón para conformarse con menos que su propia cocina.

Un Corazón Bondadoso y Fiel

Era bondadosa. Era generosa. Ayudó a sus inquilinos, a sus amigos y a su familia — incluso cuando algunos se aprovecharon de su bondad. Amó a sus hijos con fiereza y se preocupaba más por sus dos hijos que vivían más cerca de ella.

Era una católica devota. Podías poner tu reloj en hora con sus lecturas diarias en la mesa de su cocina. Solo tenía cosas buenas que decir o no decía nada.

Una Despedida en Paz

Murió en paz, bajo sus propias condiciones — como vivió. Ahora está con sus hermanas y su familia, en un lugar donde ya no hay dolor ni preocupación.

Te amamos; te extrañamos y te llevaremos con nosotros — siempre.

Descansa en paz.

A Eulogy for Our Mother

We gather today to honor and celebrate the life of our mother — a woman who carried within her a quiet, unbreakable strength from the very beginning.

She lived her early years across the landscapes of northern Mexico before making her home in the United States. It was there she raised her children, loved her grandchildren, and built a life entirely on her own terms.

A Life Shaped by Strength

Her early life was marked by hardship and yet, she never let bitterness take root. She was the proverbial optimist, always offering her children words of wisdom, always urging them toward change, toward something better. She turned suffering into counsel, and counsel into love.

A Creator and a Collector

She was a creator — a seamstress whose hands never rested. She would say she didn't like Christmas, and then put up a tree in every room and spend thirty days after the holiday hunting the sales. That was her — full of beautiful contradictions.

A Determined Woman

When most people slow down, she started investing in rental property. She had a dream: to one day collect rent instead of paying it. And she did it.

Her only regret was never having learned to drive. She didn't like to travel or eat at restaurants — probably because she was an excellent cook and saw no reason to settle for less than her own kitchen.

A Peaceful Farewell

She died peacefully, on her own terms — as she lived. She is with her family now, in a place where there is no more pain, no more worry.

We love you; we miss you and will carry you with us — always.

Rest in peace.

A Eulogy for Our Mother

We gather today to honor and celebrate the life of our mother — a woman who carried within her a quiet, unbreakable strength from the very beginning.

She lived her early years across the landscapes of northern Mexico before making her home in the United States. It was there she raised her children, loved her grandchildren, and built a life entirely on her own terms.

A Life Shaped by Strength

Her early life was marked by hardship and yet, she never let bitterness take root. She was the proverbial optimist, always offering her children words of wisdom, always urging them toward change, toward something better. She turned suffering into counsel, and counsel into love.

A Creator and a Collector

She was a creator — a seamstress whose hands never rested. She would say she didn't like Christmas, and then put up a tree in every room and spend thirty days after the holiday hunting the sales. That was her — full of beautiful contradictions.

A Determined Woman

When most people slow down, she started investing in rental property. She had a dream: to one day collect rent instead of paying it. And she did it.

Her only regret was never having learned to drive. She didn't like to travel or eat at restaurants — probably because she was an excellent cook and saw no reason to settle for less than her own kitchen.

A Peaceful Farewell

She died peacefully, on her own terms — as she lived. She is with her family now, in a place where there is no more pain, no more worry.

We love you; we miss you and will carry you with us — always.

Rest in peace.

Elegía para Nuestra Madre

Nos reunimos hoy para honrar y celebrar la vida de nuestra madre — una mujer que llevó dentro de sí una fuerza callada e inquebrantable desde el principio.

Vivió sus primeros años entre los paisajes del norte de México antes de establecer su hogar en los Estados Unidos. Fue allí donde crió a sus hijos, amó a sus nietos y construyó una vida enteramente bajo sus propias condiciones.

Una Vida Forjada por la Fortaleza

Su vida temprana estuvo marcada por las dificultades y, sin embargo, nunca permitió que la amargura echara raíces. Era la optimista por excelencia, siempre ofreciendo a sus hijos palabras de sabiduría, siempre impulsándolos hacia el cambio, hacia algo mejor. Convirtió el sufrimiento en consejo, y el consejo en amor.

Una Creadora y Coleccionista

Era una creadora — una costurera cuyas manos nunca descansaban. Decía que no le gustaba la Navidad, y luego ponía un árbol en cada habitación y pasaba treinta días después de las fiestas cazando las ofertas. Así era ella — llena de hermosas contradicciones.

Una Mujer Decidida

Cuando la mayoría de las personas desaceleran, ella comenzó a invertir en propiedades de alquiler. Tenía un sueño: algún día cobrar renta en lugar de pagarla. Y lo logró.

Su único arrepentimiento fue nunca haber aprendido a manejar. No le gustaba viajar ni comer en restaurantes — probablemente porque era una excelente cocinera y no veía razón para conformarse con menos que su propia cocina.

Una Despedida en Paz

Murió en paz, bajo sus propias condiciones — como vivió. Ahora está con su familia, en un lugar donde ya no hay dolor ni preocupación.

Te amamos; te extrañamos y te llevaremos con nosotros — siempre.

Descansa en paz.

Hortensia Magdaleno passed on June 29, 2026, at the age of 85, having been born on February 9, 1941, in Durango, Mexico.

Visitation will be held Friday, July 3, 2026, from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm with a vigil at 11:00 am at Funeraria Del Angel Central, 3839 Montana Ave, El Paso, Texas 79903.