Raquel Del Carmen Villagra Vargas

Raquel Del Carmen Villagra Vargas, 88, passed away on October 18, 2011 in Mesa, Arizona. She was born in Valparaiso, Chile on March 28, 1923. Raquel was predeceased by her husband Marcel Henrion Navarrete, grandson Ryan Hochstedler, as well as her six siblings, and her parents.

She is survived by her two daughters, Georgi Henrion and Ivette Hochstedler, three grandchildren, and six great grandchildren. The youngest of seven children, Raquel cared for her siblings for many years before becoming a nurse at a children’s hospital in Chile. She came to the United States to help care for her grandchildren and had travelled frequently between her home in Chile and Arizona for the last 27 years.

Raquel loved to walk outside as much as possible. She was incredibly resistant to the intense Arizona heat and worked hard at maintaining a large yard for years. She was thrifty, conserved water, recycled everything she could, and was ecologically friendly long before green was a way of thinking. Raquel enjoyed sewing, being in nature, drawing, painting, and cooking. She adored singing in French, German, and Spanish. Raquel was always delighted by animals, especially dogs and cats and took great care of family pets.

She had recently moved to a new community for seniors in Mesa, Arizona. From her apartment she walked to her local bank, supermarket, and park. Raquel was extremely proud to be so healthy and sprightly, and many times remarked “soy mas sana que el yogurt.” She took such pleasure from small things such as sewing pillow covers for her grandchildren, eating fresh fish and chips, being near the ocean, and singing songs from her childhood. She will be remembered by her family for her kindness to animals, her delicious cooking, and for the way she devoted herself to the care of her husband until he passed away.

Arrangements under the direction of Carr-Tenney Mortuary, Tempe, AZ.