Cecilia Ulibarri Pena

Cecilia Ulibarri Pena, 90, has returned home to embrace her loving family early Tuesday morning, December 10, 2024 in Benson, Arizona. Family members were at her bedside as she took her last breath.

Cecilia was born August 28, 1934 in McNary, Arizona, daughter of Manuel Ortiz Pena and Benina Moreno Ulibarri. She was the youngest of the surviving children and third oldest of the Ulibarri Family.

Cecilia Pena lived a full and adventuress life, living most of it in St. Johns, Arizona. She was raised at the homestead, south of St. Johns and helped with farming chores. Cecilia was a fun and loving person, she loved her children, grandkids, great grandkids, and all of her kin. Cecilia was not able to enjoy her great-great-grandkids, as she had started combating dementia.

As a young girl she attended elementary in St. Johns and found herself not graduating from high school. Cecilia became a young housewife and mother. She married Longie Herrera Ballejos at the age of 14 in 1949. She had her first-born, Raymond in 1949, followed by Ernest, Virginia and Dolores. She decided to take a short break then wanted to have a family to make up a baseball team so she had Anthony, Longie Pat, Victor, Enselmo and Robert; so, if you were counting that made her baseball team. 

After raising her kids, Cecilia returned to school to get her GED. She was so proud to have achieved that accomplishment. Cecilia loved cooking. She worked as a waitress and cook at Mela’s Café, also as a cook for Roberto’s Café in Springerville; owned by her son Robert. Cecilia had a concession stand during the horse races in St. Johns and entered food items at the Apache County Fair. She played softball and coached a softball team called the Rookies, she was a member of the Red Hat Lady Group, a member of the Spanish Choir in Springerville, a member of the American Legion Auxiliary since 1981; held the position of District 6 President, Unit 31 President and current member of Unit 45 in Benson. She was a member of the Head Start and worked as a Tax Prep. Cecilia had many enjoyable times and made friends with her smile and laugh.

She could hardly wait for the weekends, because it was dancing time. She would dance with anyone who would ask or someone to dance with. She really enjoyed watching her children compete in sports and no one could scream louder than her. Not one person would sit next to her at the games because she was so loud. She loved to play bingo and of course going to the casinos.

Cecilia especially loved to visit family and friends. When you invited her, she’d say, “let’s go”.

On one of her family visits Dolores was pushing her wheelchair up the ramp at the airport. When they got to their gate, she told mom, “Mom you need to lose some weight”. The Porter then asked, “Would you like for me to push her”? Dolores responded quickly, “please do”. The Porter went over and unlocked the brakes. Another incident happened, when Pat and Ernest were pushing her at the airport, (different wheelchair). When the time came for her to board the plane, the ramp was slightly slanted. All of a sudden they heard, “You’re going too fast”, you’re going too fast’’! When they both looked, she was half way down the ramp; both grips of the wheelchair had come off in Pat’s hands. They were at the top of the ramp laughing and watching her come to a sudden stop. Those are a couple of her traveling adventures.

She always had a smile on her face, that would want you to smile with her and if you gave her chance, she would also give you a big, warm hug. She was always ready to help others whenever they needed.

Cecilia was preceded in death by her parents, Manuel Ortiz Pena and Benina Ulibarri Pena, brothers, Gilbert Pena and Elfigo Pena, sister, Emilia Madrid, sons, Raymond Ballejos, Anthony Madrid, grandson, Adam Ballejos and great-granddaughter, Ashley Klingaman.

Cecilia leaves behind 90 years of memories and a lasting legacy. She will be loved and missed by her family dearly; sons, Ernest (Miriam) Ballejos, Longie Pat (DellaRae) Ballejos, Victor (Sandra) Padilla, Enselmo Padilla, Robert Galdean, daughters Virginia Klingaman, Dolores (Steve) Chavez, daughter-in-law, Maxine Ballejos, 26 grandkids, 43 great-grandkids, 6 great-great-grandkids, and many nephews, nieces, cousins and friends.

A viewing will be held Friday, December 27, 2024 at 6:00 p.m. at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, St. Johns, followed by Rosary at 7:00 p.m. A funeral Mass will be held Saturday, December 28, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. also at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, with visitation one hour prior. Interment will follow the services at the St. Johns Catholic Cemetery. A luncheon will be held following the services at Barth Hall.