On Saturday, March 27, 2021, Eufelia C. LaBadie, the matriarch of the LaBadie family left this world and began her eternal life in heaven. Born in May of 1919, Eufelia began her happy, long and accomplished life alongside her parents, brothers and sisters on their family farm. The small community of La Villita would ultimately be where she would reside the majority of her 101 years of life. There she and her beloved husband Frank would raise their children and enjoy their multitude of grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great grandchildren.
Family members who preceded Eufelia in death and welcomed her to heaven with loving arms include her parents, Ramoncita and Lucas Martinez, her beloved husband Frank of 60 years, her sons, Gilbert, Frank Jr., and Charles; sister Deluvina Cordova and son-in-law’s, Octavio Romero and Michael Sanchez, Sr. Eufelia is survived by her children Rita Romero, Olivia Trujillo (Fidencio), Ruben (Mary), Irene Sanchez and Charlene LaBadie and their extensive families.
During her lifetime, she saw and witnessed so much and experienced a lot of change. Eufelia was a strong woman who lived through tough times like the Great Depression, Prohibition, the Atomic Bomb, the assignation of JFK. Eufelia was born at the height of the Spanish flu, also known as the deadly influenza pandemic, caused by the H1N1 influenza A virus. Recently, she talked at length about how today’s Coronavirus, COVID 19 compared in many ways to what she experienced in her early years of life. She shared with her family stories of how quarantine in her early years prepared her for what we are experiencing today. As God’s grace would have it, neither of those world-wide health pandemics she witnessed in her lifetime would come to harm her. Instead, Eufelia experienced stellar health until her sudden and yet peaceful passing. The tough times she witnessed, were nothing like what we complain about today. It was those experiences and the grace in which she handled life’s many challenges that made her the resilient woman she was. Her stern yet understanding qualities made her the remarkable woman, wife, mother, grandmother and friend to many. She was an example of endurance, generosity and self-determination. A hard worker, she instilled in her children a strong work ethic that they would each carry on in their own lives.
Eufelia was a faithful and devote member of the Catholic Church. She understood the power of prayer and importance of having faith in God. One would often find her in her room, listening to the rosary on the radio or praying in solitude when she wasn’t enjoying her gardens and visitors. Eufelia loved her family; she was a treasure here on earth that will not be forgotten.
A rosary will be held on April 8, 2021 at 10:30 a.m.at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Ohkay Owingeh, NM. A mass of Christian burial will follow at 11:00 a.m. with burial to follow at the La Villita Catholic Cemetery. Carrying Eufelia to her final resting place are Carlos, Aaron, and Slade LaBadie, Eric and Matthew Martinez, and Michael Sanchez, Jr.