DUARTE, Leonarda (Nala)

Leonarda "Nala" Bejarano Duarte September 18, 1916 - March 5, 2007 Nala was born in Virden, New Mexico and grew up in the Gila River Valley. She moved to Tucson in the early 1950s and married Federico Duarte in Nogales, AZ. She raised son, Raymond and daughter, Carmen and her sister's children: Raúl (Mary) Herrera, Irene (George) Romero, Jaime (Shelly) Herrera and Richard Herrera. But many others, including granddaughters, Deana (son, Brandon), Julisa, Clarissa; her nieces, nephews, grand-nieces and grand-nephews all loved Nala as a mother and grandmother. She touched many people, and she taught them all that God is first, family second and community third. Her motto in life was that we have to help each other and do what is right. She believed that no child asked to be born, so parents had to be responsible and raise their children to be good, productive people who would give to their community. Nala showed her love through cooking. Anyone who came to her house, she would feed. She loved to bake and will be remembered for her yeast bread, lemon meringue pies, her chocolate pudding pies topped with bananas and her doughnuts. She was well known for her spicy red chile con carne tamales, homemade tortillas with butter, her caldos, and the Lenten foods, such as cheese enchiladas, nopalitos with red chile, calabacitas con queso and her capirotada (bread pudding). Because of this, the family is asking that donations be made in her memory to the Community Food Bank or Casa de San Juan, which helps immigrants, at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church. Services will be Friday at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church, 602 W. Ajo Way, with a viewing beginning at 9:30 a.m., Rosary at 10:30 a.m. and Mass at 11:00 a.m., concelebrated by Revs. Robert Gonzalez and Raúl Trevizo. Burial will follow at Holy Hope Cemetery, 3555 N. Oracle Road. Funeral services entrusted to MARTINEZ FUNERAL CHAPELS, 2580 S. 6th Ave, South Tucson, AZ. Published in the Tucson on 3/8/2007.