Laurencia Sierra

Our beloved mother, Laurencia Sierra of Draper, Utah died on March 8, 2022. Laurencia was born on June 4, 1924 in Anthony, New Mexico to Pedro and Dolores Hernandez. She was one of six children. All her five siblings have preceded her in death. She was married to the late E.E. Sierra, Jr. and together had six children. Her beloved son Adolfo died in 2018 and beloved grandson Christopher died in 2013. She is also preceded in death by two beloved great grandchildren Karol (2018) and Jackson (2018). She is survived by her children, Stanley (Carol), Danny (Olga), Elsa, Jimmy (Amy) and Selma, her grandchildren, Christina, Kimmy, Danny Jr., Jerome, Venessa, Nicole, Nathan, Tracy, Erika, Michael, Camille, David, and Thomas. She also is survived by 19 great grandchildren.

Mother was a faithful, hardworking, and loving mother, wife, grandma and friend who dedicated her life to God, family and community. While raising six children and maintaining a loving home, she found time to have a career, volunteer at her parish and in the community.

As a parishioner and volunteer, she was one of several ladies who was responsible for cleaning the church. She insisted on tidiness and cleanliness not only at home but in God’s house. Mother also cooked and hosted several priests during the annual church feast/celebration as well as throughout the year. Additionally, she was a key volunteer at the annual parish fundraising festival. During the month of May, the Church honors our Blessed Virgin Mother Mary and for many years mom oversaw arranging for all the children (around 25) the daily offering of fresh flowers to the Blessed Mother following the Holy Rosary. This entailed picking fresh flowers every two to three days, placing them in mason jars and ensuring the flowers were properly kept worthy of offering.  At the end of May, mom organized the children’s involvement in the grand celebration/fundraiser that culminated in the crowning of a local young lady as Parish Queen.

Mom enriched her own faith by continuing to learn about the teachings of the Church and then taking her knowledge to others when she taught Catechism to fourth grade students. While active in her parish, mother had the support of Dad who was mom’s faithful soulmate. He too had an active role in the Church. He coordinated the group of men for the 12 Apostles role during the celebration of the Last Supper on Holy Thursday. He was also a regular usher and drove kids to and from Catechism classes since transportation was nearly non-existent for some who lived in rural areas. Dad was also a rather good cook. He helped mom make Sunday lunch for the family that included our parish priest.

Mother was hard working, disciplined and dedicated to family. She taught her children to have a strong work ethic, live within their means and help others in need. She was very frugal yet generous. As her children grew a bit older, mom worked as a salesperson for World Book Encyclopedia. She was one of the top salespeople in her region. The modest income and rewards for her efforts were added to the “family fun fund”. She also worked for the county nutrition program where she taught families how to cook and eat healthier on a limited income. Before she was forced to retire due to dad’s untimely death, she dedicated full-time work at her and dad’s family-owned business and only had a half day off which she spent cleaning her house.

Maintaining close relationships with family was particularly important to mom (and dad). Mom made sure to include regular visits to various aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents, and friends.  Family birthdays were celebrated with great fanfare. Mom would spend hours baking cakes and preparing the meal. No party was ever held with less than 50 people. And when it was time to plan weddings, there she was doing everything she could to make sure her children had the finest wedding day. And they did! When the grandkids and great grandkids came, she was (along with dad) there to entertain and love (spoil) them. The grandkids were their great companions. Shopping, travel, holidays, going out to eat or cooking for them, or joining them in their birthday and wedding celebrations were the highlights. 

Dad’s death transformed mom’s life. She had suddenly lost her soul mate and love of her life. She left an area where she had grown up, her family, her friends and came to live with her daughters in Washington, D.C. While tragedy struck her and the family, the experience our dear Lord gave her with her children, and new friends was one of her best times in her life. When mom was able to meet friends and experience life in the big city, she fit right in. She took care of her grandchildren and mingled with the moms and grandmas’ groups. Though mom missed dad till her dying days, she was able to fill the other parts of her heart with a new life, visits with her children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. 

Not all was great but then again life is that way. She made many sacrifices and suffered quite a bit. She suffered through several health issues — open heart surgery, breast cancer, stroke, broken arm due to a fall. She unfortunately witnessed dad’s tragic death when he was killed in an auto/pedestrian accident. She suffered the ultimate broken heart when her son, Adolfo died. Mom experienced and suffered the loss of her parents, all her siblings and all of dad’s siblings. Her suffering on earth must have given her a quick entrance into heaven.

In her remaining months, she lost her sense of independence but never lost her faith or prayer life. Our dear Lord, allowed family to care for her at home. She lived the life our Lord would expect all of us to live. In many ways, her purgatory was here on earth and in other ways, her heaven was here too. To paraphrase a coach’s motto, she played her heart out in life till the end and left nothing on the field.

God’s gift of a beautiful mother and wonderful father has been a tremendous blessing. May God Bless our family and friends who mourn loved ones and may we be given the strength to accept God’s will and remain grateful for His Love and Mercy.

Friends and family are welcome to join a vigil service Wednesday, March 16, 2022, from 6:00PM to 8:00PM here at Starks Funeral Parlor. For those unable to attend, a live-stream service will be available on this website.

Visitation and funeral Mass will be celebrated in Anthony, NM at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church at 10:00AM. She will be laid to rest at Ft. Bliss National Cemetery, El Paso, Texas on Tuesday, March 22, 2022 at 10:30AM.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be directed to St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in name of the Sierra Memorial Fund for Catholic Educational initiatives. The address is 300 East 11800 South, Draper, Utah 84020 or you may click the link proved above and make a donation on their website.