Marcia Trujillo Medina

Marcia Trujillo Medina, 86, passed away peacefully at her home in Albuquerque shortly before midnight on December 31, 2024, attended to by her twin sons and sister-in-law.

 Marcia lived a full and joyful life punctuated by challenges that she overcame with grace. She was born April 4, 1938 in Española to Cipriano DeAguero Trujillo and Nellie Miranda Trujillo. Cipriano and Nellie had tragically buried two of their infant children before she was born, but Marcia was blessedly born to them healthy and strong. 

 She graduated high school in Española in 1956 and followed in her parents’ footsteps, attending Highlands University where she met her future husband and father of her children, David Medina. She received a B.A. in Elementary Education in 1961, giving birth to her eldest son, Steven, that same year. She took her first teaching job in Los Alamos in 1962 before moving to Albuquerque where she taught at McCollum Elementary. She gave birth to twin sons, Pablo and Eugenio (Gene) in October 1967. Two months later, Marcia and David parted ways and she became a single mother. Despite the split, Marcia never lost touch with David’s family, and remained beloved by them for the rest of her life.

 Marcia moved to Las Cruces upon the request of her grandmother, Francisca Miranda, who helped her with her young children, until she returned to Española to a home just a few houses down from her parents. The decades that followed were marked by family gatherings with her parents, her brother, Ted, and his family, raising her sons in the Catholic faith, being a Catholic Daughter, and tri-annual family reunions with her mother’s eleven siblings and their extended families. Marcia completed a Master’s Degree in Early Childhood Education in 1974 at the University of New Mexico and spent many years teaching kindergarten at Chimayó, Fairview, Los Niños and Holy Cross elementary schools. She was a patient and creative teacher, well-liked by her students, and almost always had a class pet like guinea pigs to encourage a sense of responsibility in young children. 

 Marcia was an avid animal lover who enjoyed rescuing the “ugly” and disabled ones, saying they all deserved a safe and loving home. Her niece and nephews fondly remember her three-legged cat and wart-ridden dog, Eubie. In her final years she loved her sweet dog, Molly, who is now grieving her loss by hiding in Marcia’s bathroom.

 Marcia’s time on earth was marked by an ability to maintain lifelong friendships and connections, such as that of close companion Regino Salazar, or best friend Margaret “Peggy” Grant. Peggy and Marcia shared many adventures in the span of their 50-year friendship, including two trips to Australia and the final adventure of choosing to live across the street from each other in Albuquerque. 

 During her last chapter of life in the “big city”, Marcia stayed close with her friends from Española, Mary Kay Maestas, Betty Cordova and Leslee Cordova. She enjoyed regular quality time with family, like her uncle, Gus Miranda, and cousins Dina Chacon-Reitzel, Jim Reitzel, Claudio Chacon, Mary Lou, Teresa LaChance, Carmen Chacon and Carl and Rod Miranda, and was never one to miss a family gathering, funeral or celebration. Marcia also continued to create new and meaningful social connections in Albuquerque through activities like tai chi, yoga, and daily walks with Molly, and made special friends like Linda, Karen, Judi, Olivia and Shelly, who never stopped checking in on her during her decline.

 Marcia was a dedicated daughter who moved in with and cared for her mother until Nellie passed in 2010. She was a loving sister who visited and offered support to her niece and nephews when Ted suffered from dementia, and she was heartbroken when he passed away in 2022. She loved her grandchildren and her niece and nephews as if they were her own. 

 The life of a single parent is never easy, but Marcia was not one to complain or express self-pity. Her eldest son, Steven, suffers from debilitating epilepsy, but despite the struggle, Marcia always remained positive, vibrant, humble and doting. Towards the end of her life, Steven’s epilepsy led to him living in a nursing facility, which hurt Marcia terribly. She never gave up on him and worked hard to get his affairs in order and visit him constantly. In the end, her dedication to family came full circle through a loving and light-hearted relationship with her devoted sons, Pablo and Gene, who took care of her every need in her final months even as she fought her waning independence. Marcia also maintained a special connection with Stacey, the mother of her grandson, Cip, who she lovingly referred to as her daughter-in-law, and who generously contributed to Marcia’s care up until her passing. 

 Marcia was fiercely independent, and the thought of being a burden on her sons or friends was hard for her. Her family is thankful she is now at peace with her parents, brother and all of her dearly departed family and friends. Marcia will be remembered as cheerful, strong, steady, unconditionally supportive, self-deprecating, quick-to-smile, friendly, curious and non-judgmental. She was nothing short of an exceptional person who embodied the wisdom of taking joy in the simple things: a meal with friends, a laugh with her sons, a visit with family, a walk with her dog. She will be deeply, deeply missed.

 Marcia was preceded in death by her parents, Cipriano and Nellie Trujillo, her brother, Ted J. Trujillo, and many beloved friends and family. She is survived by her sons: Steven, Pablo and Gene; her grandchildren Christopher, Laura, and Cipriano; great-grandchildren Nola and Mkwa; nephews Adán (Ashley), Omar (Masha) and Elias; niece Pilar, great-nephews Felix, Alonso and Teo; great-nieces Sabina and Verona; sister-in-law Marisela; and many cherished family members and friends.

 Funeral services for Marcia will be held on January 23rd, 2025 at 11:00 a.m. at Daniels Family Funerals & Cremation in Albuquerque with a reception to follow