Maria "Cuca" Cruz Munoz

Maria (Cuca) Muñoz, 89, passed away Saturday, October 22, 2022 in her La Union, New Mexico home after a long and fulfilling life. Cuca Muñoz was born on February 19^th, 1933, in La Union, New Mexico, to Dolores Fierro Legardia and Bernardino Cruz. Cuca is survived by her four children, Tony Muñoz and wife Ricki of El Paso, Texas, Adam (Nunie) Muñoz of La Union, New Mexico, Diane Muñoz Ludwig and husband Henry of La Union, New Mexico, and Sandra Muñoz Columbus of Claremont, California; six grandchildren, Toni Muñoz-Hunt and husband Dan, Brett Muñoz and wife Erika, Cassie Columbus and partner Brett Willman (chicle), Henry Ludwig, Anthony Ludwig, and Mia Ludwig; two great-grandchildren Darlington Hunt and Tennyson Hunt; and her brother Reymondo Cruz. She is preceded in death by her husband of 67 years, Alfonso (Poncho) Castillo Muñoz, granddaughter Erica Hayes, her brother Avelino Cruz, and sisters Emilia (Milo) Ramos, and Linda (Peewa) Elorduy.

Cuca Muñoz was born and raised in the town of La Union, and lived in her current home for 65 years. Briefly, she worked at Weaver Scope where she met the love of her life, Poncho, and soon after, started a family together in El Paso, Texas. Over the years she served in various fields including Hallicrafters electronic company, being a nurse’s aide, as Den Mother for the Cub Scouts and coached several La Union baseball teams, she was also a member of the La Union Town Council. First and foremost, Cuca is remembered for her love and devotion to God, family, and friends, her friendly and outgoing nature, and being fun, funny, warm, and loving.

She enjoyed cooking enchiladas, tamales, chile rellenos, and mashed potatoes for her family, gardening, and traveling, seeing her granddaughter, Mia sing and especially visiting California to see her daughter, Sandra, and her family. Cuca was incredibly spiritual and religious, praying at the crack of dawn every morning and attending church every Sunday at Our Lady of Refuge Catholic Church where she enjoyed getting there early to pray and to see all of her friends. “Miss Cuca” was devoted to Our Lady of Refuge mission where she was the sacristan for many years. She also looked over the La Union Cemetery, and taught catechism. La Parienta Cuca loved her family very much and thoroughly enjoyed being our family historian. She was very proud of her family history in La Union and she would put many hours in maintaining the family tree of Simon and Juliana Enriquez going back eight generations. She connected long lost family members from all over the world and loved seeing the joy and pride it brought our relatives to know their ancestry. Cuca is lovingly remembered and will be sorely missed by her family, friends, church, and the La Union community.

Rosary at 7:00 pm on Friday, November 4; and the Funeral Mass at 10:00 am on Saturday, November 5 at Our Lady of Refuge Church in La Union, New Mexico. She will be interred in the La Union Cemetery following the Mass. Services entrusted to Sunset Funeral Homes-480 North Resler El Paso, TX 79912.