Cristella Margarita (Padilla) Sedillo

Cristella Margarita Sedillo, 96, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, aunt, and friend, passed away peacefully, surrounded by her family on Saturday, December 21, 2019.  Cristella was born in Tokay, New Mexico, on July 11, 1923 to Pablo and Guadalupe Padilla.  As a young child, she and her family lived in San Antonio, NM, in close proximity to Tokay and San Marcial.  The San Marcial flood of 1929 devastated these communities. Cristella’s family lost their father to typhoid fever and their home to the flood. Her family of five relocated to Albuquerque where she grew up in Barelas and later attended Albuquerque High.  As a young woman she lived in Los Angeles where she worked in a factory during the war.  Cristella returned to Albuquerque and in 1943, married her beloved husband Antonio Sedillo.  Their sacred union of 75 years produced a family of four children and an extended family of numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Cristella was a peacemaker whose life was marked by her love, compassion, and tender care of not only her family, but all whom she met.  Her primary passion was her family.  Her gift of love to each one of them was abundant and unconditional.  Her devout Catholic faith guided every aspect of her exemplary life and bore much fruit. She enjoyed the simple things in life and her favorite pastimes were cooking for her family and dancing at the American Legion Post.  Cristella delighted in watching boxing, storytelling, and laughing at a good joke. Frequently, she ended her stories by saying “Can you believe it?”.  Our beloved Cristella will be fondly remembered and greatly missed.

Preceding her in death are her husband, Antonio Jose Sedillo, son, Lawrence Sedillo, grandchild Daniel Antonio Armijo, great-grandchildren Renee Sedillo and Angel Armijo.  Cristella is survived by her children, Patrick Sedillo (wife Emma),  Anna Armijo (husband Daniel), Anthony Sedillo (wife Bernice), and daughter in-law, Karen Sedillo; grandchildren Marisol Brito (husband Russell), Carlos Armijo (wife Roberta), Santiago Armijo, Anamaria Armijo-Glenn (husband Brandon), Maya Armijo, Michael Sedillo (wife Francine), Joseph Sedillo, Andres Sedillo,  and numerous great-grandchildren, nieces, and nephews.