Zenaida Sepulveda Conway

Zenaida Sepulveda Conway born October 4, 1936, passed away August 30, 2016. Born to migrant workers Sofia Guerrero and Ramon Sepulveda in Port Lavaca, South Texas, she is preceded in death by her parents, 8 siblings, husband James Conway, children Michael Venecia and Cynthia Stewart, and grandson Christopher Venecia. She is survived by her three children, Yolanda, Joel, and Lewis Venecia, grandchildren Valerie Venecia, Michael and Casey Stewart, Nicholas and Jacqueline Venecia, and countless nieces, nephews, and dear friends. Those who knew Zenaida would agree that she was a force of nature to be reckoned with, a survivor who went at any length to protect and provide for her family. Renamed early on after a schoolteacher could not pronounce her name, “Miss Edie” never lost her love for education and literacy, against all odds earning her GED and an associate degree in Liberal Arts upon raising her five children on her own. After moving to El Paso in 1963, Zenaida took a wide variety of jobs and careers including running a beauty salon out of her home, the taxi business, and finally retiring in 2001 as the head secretary of Clendenin elementary School. A skilled gardener, and lover of birds, she often sang and whistled to her plants and parrot, Gracie. Despite rough beginnings, she always held her head high, a classy lady who unabashedly lived her life exactly the way she wanted –with great love-traveling the world, frequenting the 5 Points community playing the jukebox with such enjoyment as though life was one great party. More importantly, she lived with great courage and a sense of will and strength contagious to all who knew and loved her. Always ready to offer witty words of wisdom and advice, jokes, or a catchy tune, Zenaida never allowed the trials of life to discourage her or those she cared for from accomplishing their goals and being happy. Visitation: 5:00pm-8:00pm on Tuesday, September 6, 2016 at Sunset Funeral Home Northeast. Committal Service: 10:00am, Wednesday, September 7, 2016 at Fort Bliss National Cemetery. Services entrusted to Sunset Funeral Home Northeast. Please visit our online registry book at www.sunsetfuneralhomes.net