Lely Paniagua Medina

Lely Paniagua Medina, beloved wife, mother and mom-mom, passed away on Saturday morning, January 29, 2022. Lely, the daughter of Fide Perdriel Paniagua and Pastor Paniagua, was born in Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia on Wednesday, June 4, 1930. Lely worked for the Bolivia Social Security Agency as a secretary when she met her husband, Victor Medina, an American from the United States who was working in Bolivia for an American geophysical company. They were married on Saturday, May 2, 1959, and left Bolivia for the United States in 1960. She and Victor lived in New Mexico, Utah, Ohio, and California before settling down permanently in Albuquerque with their children. Lely was proud of her Bolivian heritage and passed that on to her children and grandchildren. She was also proud of becoming an American citizen in 1969. In addition to raising her family, Lely worked as a temporary cashier at the UNM Bookstore for twenty years where she made many life-long friends. She was a loving and devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother who will be missed by all who loved her.

Lely was preceded in death by her husband of 60 years, Victor O. Medina; her parents; and brother, Herberto Paniagua. She is survived by her daughters, Frances Dodson and husband, Dave, Victoria Baker and husband, Vernon; son, Glenn Medina and wife, Kathy; grandchildren Jeremy Baker and wife, Eden, Christopher Baker and wife, Paige, Vanessa McKay and husband, Levi, Jake Medina, Shaun Dodson, Zack Medina, Stacy Dodson, and Lexi Medina; three great-granddaughters, Alexis Baker, Jaycee, and Elyn Baker; and many relatives and friends.

A Celebration of Life will be held at Covenant ABQ United Methodist Church, 8510 Wyoming Blvd NE, 10:00 a.m., on Monday, February 28, 2022, followed by a Private Burial at Santa Fe National Cemetery where she will lie in rest with her husband, Victor.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her memory to Covenant ABQ United Methodist Church at www.covenantabq.church/give or to Educate the Children Bolivia at https://fwdioc.org/educate-the-children-bolivia