Manuel Padilla

Manuel “Manny” Eugene Padilla was a great man.  One of his greatest characteristics was his strength; he had a physical power that was beyond human norms.  However, his physical strength paled in comparison to the strength of his love and commitment to his wife Crusita for 57 years - the love of his life and the prettiest girl he knew.   Manuel gave his life to making the best life for his family; he worked long/hard hours for the Public Service Company of New Mexico only to come home to play, swim, read and spend time with Crusita and his children Rick, Lorraine and Therese.  It was the sacrifices of Manuel and Crusita that allowed his children/grandchildren/and all other family members and friends to know unselfish love, experience the gift of friendship and fellowship and to know that God allows his angels to be among us.

Manuel lived life to the fullest.  He found great happiness when he fulfilled his dream of living on a farm, riding horses and raising animals. His friends at PNM were lifelong and important to him and he was a faithful member of IBEW 611.  He thoroughly enjoyed camping, fishing, following Lobo sports, poker games with friends and family, traveling, swimming, and having friends and family join him at his home. Music was very important in his life; in his youth he played drums in a band the Silverstars with his brother Ernie and sister Elsie. A true joy of his life was playing and coaching baseball and softball with his kids and their friends.

Manuel is greatly missed, however, his life-long example of love, hard work, friendship and commitment to a life well lived still runs through those who knew him.  He was preceded in death by his parents, Ben and Tillie Padilla, his brothers Eddie Padilla and Ernie Padilla, his sisters Elsie Velasquez and Rosalie Espinoza, in-laws Frank and Helen Gonzales, sisters-in-law Rita Gonzales, Becky Gonzales, Elaine Ramirez, and Bonnie Cooper, brother-in-law Mike Velasquez, and many other family members. He is survived by his wife, Crusita, his son Rick and wife Agnes, his daughter Lorraine and husband John, his daughter Therese and husband Eddie, and grandchildren Lourdes, Danilo, Caitlin, Ava, Pancho, and Fiona.

The Padilla family says Thank You to everyone who helped take care of Manuel and sacrificed their own time and talents for him.  We will always be indebted to your kindness and love. A special thanks goes out to Dr. Joy Lovette, Dr. David Peters, Dr. Oscar Quintana, Dr. David Ewing, the staff at The Retreat Alzheimer’s Specialty Care facility, and Sarah Ortiz and the staff at ProMedica Heartland Hospice Care. Donna Gonzales, Frank Velasquez, Ray Gonzales, and Manny Ramirez- thank you for your help and the love you showed in caring for him at home during his last weeks.

Manuel’s earthly journey is now complete, we wish him God’s peace and look forward to seeing him in Paradise.

Please join his family in remembering his life at the services below: a rosary on Tuesday, November 7^th at 7:00 PM at French Mortuary on Wyoming and a funeral mass on Wednesday, November 8^th at 10:30 AM at Our Lady of Guadalupe church. As you drive into Our Lady of Guadalupe Church for the funeral mass, please enter from San Isidro, as the Griegos entrance is blocked by construction. Following the funeral mass, please join us for burial at Mount Calvary Cemetery followed by a reception at Our Lady of Guadalupe parish hall.