Consuelo "Chito" Zafra de Pacheco

Our heavenly Father called Chito home after 100 years of a wonderful and blessed life, with her beloved family by her side.  Chito was born in San Miguel, United States of America Philippine Islands.  She grew up with a large traditional Spanish and extended Filipino families.  Chito and her family experienced the Japanese occupation during World War II, then US Liberation and Philippine Independence.  Post-World War II, she married Eugenio (who was born in Copenhagen, Denmark and was a US Air Force disabled veteran).  She is survived by children Eduardo and wife Mary; Gene and wife Charito; Nina Haas and husband Ken; Stan, Christian and wife Diane; Shelly Hertzler and husband Eric.  Grandchildren Carla Langford (Greg); Francis, Kristina Koehler (Timothy); John Haas, Stevie and Christopher Padilla (Atrelle); Angela Gurule (Karl Armijo); Sarah Rogowski (Mark); Frederic Zafra, Monica Zafra (Brandon Nguyen); and Mathew Romero.  Great-grandchildren Mileena, Noah, Elijah, Hailey, Ayden, Kaylihn, Major, Nico, Anya, Violet, Joseph, Julia, Alicia, Santiago, Elisha, Xavier, Jasmine and Urijah.  Chito is survived with families in the Philippines, Spain and US.  Chito was pre-deceased by her parents Amadeo and Caridad Pacheco, her siblings Esperanza, Caridad, Ralph, Peping, Fe, Ida; and husband Eugenio, son Carlos and grandson Christopher. 

Eugenio and Chito (at age 50) and her family immigrated to the US and resided in New Mexico on February 1973.  As immigrants with local Filipinos they organized the Filipino-American Association (later as a Foundation) to promote their culture and traditions.  With the Fil-Am members, they established the annual Santa Cruzan celebration and pageantry commemorating Queen Helen finding the Holy Cross. They were faithful members of the Lutheran Church, American Legion, DAV and supported numerous organizations in our communities and as VA volunteer.  Chito’s Faith, Hope and Love for the Lord’s Way, Truth, and Life was her strength and resilience to a healthy, beautiful, and long life.