Services are scheduled for 2 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 10, at Trinity Temple Assembly of God for Erma Ybarra Valenzuela of Artesia.
Valenzuela, 68, went home to be with Jesus Saturday, Sept. 5, 2015, at her home, surrounded by her family.
Bobby Argo will officiate at the services, with interment to follow at Woodbine Cemetery. Pallbearers will be her grandsons, Nathaniel Otero, Isaac Valenzuela, Oscar Anaya, Phillip Otero, Jacob Valenzuela, Josiah Valenzuela and Joshua Valenzuela. Honorary pallbearers are Roman Valenzuela, Araceli Anaya and Kyle Leyva.
Visitation will begin at 3 p.m. Wednesday at Terpening & Son Mortuary.
Valenzuela was born Aug. 28, 1947, in Marathon, Texas, the daughter of Raymond E. Ybarra and Paula T. (Terrazas) Ybarra. She was a longtime Artesia resident.
On Jan. 16, 1966, she married Ishmael Valenzuela in Artesia.
She was a former employee of the Artesia Public Schools, J&J Home Care and Yates Petroleum. In her later years, she chose to be a homemaker and follow her passions of family, cooking, reading, praying, and blessing her friends.
She was an active member of Trinity Temple. She served as a greeter and also as church secretary. She was also involved with the women’s ministry and Bible studies, and was always a willing and obedient servant of the Lord. She loved to praise and worship with all her heart and was a constant prayer warrior. The last thing she wrote and would always say to her family and friends was “never give up.” She has left a beautiful legacy for all.
Survivors include her husband, Ishmael Valenzuela, of the family home; daughters Hilda Valenzuela of Albuquerque, Joelda Valenzuela-Otero and husband Art of Albuquerque, and Joann Anaya and husband Oscar of Artesia; sons Rick Valenzuela and wife Heather of Albuquerque, Ishmael Valenzuela Jr. and wife Paula of Biloxi, Miss., and Javier Valenzuela and wife Kathleen of Artesia; sisters Aurora Rojo of Albuquerque, Frances Chavarria of Hobbs, Esperanza Calderon of Hobbs, Alice Pena of Albuquerque, and Rosa Hidalgo of Albuquerque; brothers Andres Ybarra of Albuquerque, Raymond Ybarra Jr. of Carlsbad, and Ruben Ybarra of Hobbs; and numerous nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents and sisters Grace Ybarra, Celia Valdez and Lupe Calderon.
Arrangements are under the direction of Terpening & Son Mortuary. Condolences may be expressed online at www.artesiafunerals.com.
