Filomena passed away peacefully, surrounded by her family on September 13, 2024.
Filomena Valadez Abundiz born July 5, 1930, in Chapala, Jalisco Mexico. She was raised in a small cobblestone street town with her papá as the boat captain for the town lake ferry and her beloved mamá raising her and her seven siblings. Filomena was the fourth in line of siblings and was described as "a proper girly girl and a very fine and classy lady." At the age of 26, Filomena traveled to the United States with her 6-month-old daughter. Her mission was a life rooted in love and care for others, which is fitting to her name meaning "to love."
In 1956, upon joining her sisters here in the United States, Filomena knew Santa Barbara was the place she wanted to raise her daughter, Adriana Lamas Urzua, and call home. She worked various jobs including: La Tolteca, Ung Hi Yee Laundry, Lemon Factory by day and raising her daughter as a single mom. Filomena quickly became immersed into the community and created lifelong friendships along the way. In 1959, she met the love of her life, Victor Abundiz, and together they had their second daughter, Corina Figueroa, and raised their family in Santa Barbara.
Filomena was preceded in death by her parents, Pedro Valadez and Aurelia Alcantar, her husband, Victor Abundiz, and her siblings Clemente, Ana, Gregoria, Beatriz, and Juan Manuel.
She is survived by her two sisters, Concepcion Acosta, Elandia Santillan, two daughters, numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews.
Many in Santa Barbara know Filomena as "Mana." Mana began in 1975 with the birth of her first grandson, Larry Urzua, Jr. She absolutely adored being a grandmother and wanted to use the name "Mama Nena" instead of abuela. When Larry was old enough to speak, "Mama Nena" all rolled into one word: Mana.
Now, almost 50 years later, many friends, family, grandkids and great-grandkids refer to her as "Mana."
Mana was the kind of person that observed the world around her and would give her everything to ensure others were cared for. She never forgot where she came from, and although she had created quite the life here for herself, she was selfless. What started with her daughters Adriana Lamas Urzua (Larry Urzua, Sr.) and Corina Figueroa (Raul Figueroa) turned into caring for her grandchildren as if they were her own: Larry Urzua, Jr. (Amy Urzua), Deanna Urzua Caballero (Sergio Caballero), Anissa Figueroa and Timothy Figueroa. This then blossomed into caring for her great-grandchildren, which were truly her pride and joy: Alina Urzua, Katy Caballero, Siena Urzua, Shane Caballero, Eliana Urzua and Karina Urzua.
Her grandchildren and great-grandchildren have spent the last few days reminiscing over all of the fond memories made over the years: Smiling, laughing, crying over recalling her devotion to her family. After-school or summer days spent at her house, the sound of music and her singing in the kitchen, filled with endless homemade food. Her lunch burritos she walked over to us at Notre Dame School and then later in life as her older grandkids became parents, breakfast burritos after dropping off their children at school. A few of us have attempted over the years to obtain her recipes. We have even tried replicating them in our own houses, and it turns out a key ingredient was missing: her love in making these meals for us.
Filomena was more than just a woman of faith. Her love was grand for her family. She was a fierce, independent woman whose strength was admirable till her last breath here on earth.
Mana, te queremos mucho mucho más por siempre. Ya descansa, vamos a estar bien. Nos vemos, si dios quiere.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Hospice of Santa Barbara and/or the Serenity House who cared for Filomena with the utmost care and dignity.
A Rosary will be held on Thursday, Sept. 19, at 7 p.m., at McDermott-Crockett Chapel, 2020 Chapala St., Santa Barbara, California 93105. A Funeral Mass will be held on Friday, Sept. 20, at 11 a.m. at the Old Mission Santa Barbara, 2201 Laguna St., Santa Barbara, California 93015. Interment will follow at Santa Barbara Cemetery.