HANSEN, Lydia

The White Mountain Independent, Show Low, Arizona ~ 10/03/2014 Lydia Padilla Hansen, 54, died Saturday, Sept. 27, 2014, at her home in Tempe. She was born Aug. 16, 1960, in St. Johns, the daughter of Porfie Sr. and Cinda Fernandez Padilla. As a child, Lydia learned and loved the game of softball (“Scrape the dirt!”). As she grew, her love for the game was joined by her passion for cooking. Lydia was a marvelous cook and never passed up the chance to display her talents. She loved her family and although she had no kids of her own, she was a mother to all of her nieces and nephews. She was known to all of her siblings as the sister with the quick mind and even quicker wit. A jokester with all, Lydia lit up a room and was always the life of the party. In her later years, Lydia lost much of her strength, but it was replaced by her love for life. Most recently, Lydia was learning the game of football with her husband, a game that possessed many of the best qualities of her life: strength, courage, passion and family. Lydia is survived by her husband, Kirk Hansen of Tempe; brothers Porfie, Jr. (Marina) Padilla, Bobby (Sarah) Padilla, David (Carolyn) Padilla; sisters Joanna Lopez, JoAnn Lopez (Manuel, deceased), Elizabeth Vise (Johnny), Bernadette (Greg) Brockway; and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, sisters Juanita Padilla and Caroline Henderson and a baby brother. A viewing will be held from 5-7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 3, at San Rafael Catholic Church in Concho, with rosary following at 7 p.m. A funeral Mass will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 4, also at San Rafael Catholic Church. Interment will follow the Mass at the Concho Catholic Cemetery. If you would like to leave an online condolence for Lydia’s family, visit www.burnhammortuary.com. Burnham Mortuary of St. Johns handled arrangements.