CANDELARIA, Concie (Auntie)

The White Mountain Independent, Show Low, Arizona ~ 12/11/2015 Concie Candelaria completed her earthly journey Monday, Dec. 7, 2015, and went home to be with her husband, Paul, of more than 70 years. Concie was known by most everyone as auntie. Although she and Paul were unable to have children of their own, “Auntie” was a surrogate mother to many godchildren, nephews and nieces and her support was invaluable and appreciated by all. Auntie was born in an era and under circumstances that required her to develop an amazing amount of resilience, strength of character and self-reliance. Her father’s untimely death when she was 12 years old required that she support her single mother in raising her four brothers without benefit of a steady income and without the social programs that are in place today. Auntie developed a heart problem at a young age, but it did not affect her enjoyment of life or cause her to restrict herself in her day-to-day activities. With her life partner, Paul, she traveled throughout the western United States, going from job to job with Paul’s company. She often took one or more of her family with her that allowed them to get to see other places that they may have never been able to see otherwise. The prevailing ideal for Auntie was love for her husband and a deep love for her family. Later in life, Auntie and her husband’s circle of friends were decreased by time and distance, but her family remained the primary focus of her love and affection. Auntie was preceded in death by her husband, Paul J. Candelaria, godson James Ryan Hensley, brothers Porfirio Padilla and Gilbert Padilla and mother Paula (Candelaria) Padilla. She is survived by her brothers, Guillermo Padilla and Alfred Padilla, and many godchildren as well as many nephews, nieces, cousins and other extended family. Auntie’s goddaughter, Concie Hensley, wishes to thank all of the family and friends for their support and help during Auntie’s decline. Auntie was never sick, but age and life’s travails, especially the loss of Paul and finally the loss of her godson Jamie brought Auntie to her acceptance of life’s end and her passage to Heaven. Her death was exactly as her life; she decided when it was time to go and only then did she go to sleep and pass away quietly. She will be missed. A rosary will be held at 9 a.m. Friday, Dec. 11, at San Rafael Catholic Church in Concho with a funeral Mass following at 10 a.m. Interment will follow the Mass at the Concho Catholic Cemetery, which will be followed by a memorial luncheon in the Catholic Church Hall. If you would like to leave an online condolence for her family, visit www.burnhammortuary.com. Burnham Mortuary of St. Johns handled arrangements.