Leandra "Lena" Vigil Baca

Leandra “Lena” Vigil Baca was born on March 28, 1925 and died on April 20, 2025. She was preceded in death by her parents Manuel and Teresa Vigil, husband Tito, and sons David, Raymond and Greg. She is survived by her children Tim, Eva (Rick), Adam (Karen); grandchildren Krista, Vanessa, Gina, Diego, Joseph, Renee, Marisa, Benjamin, and Christine; great-grandchildren DeMarcus, Diego, Sofia, Raven, Leeandra, Abryn, Jonas, Relena, Isabel, Esmeralda, Gianni, and Eliseo; sisters Jenny and Dodie; and many nephews, nieces and cousins. Lena was a singular woman. There was no one else like her. She was stunningly beautiful, both on the outside and in her soul. She was kind, loving, and loyal. But beyond anything else, she was strong. That was her defining characteristic. She was stoic and tough, but she wasn’t hard. She trained to be a welder during WWII, very rare for a woman to do back then, but her family only learned about that when she had a doctor’s appointment in her 80s and was asked if she had been exposed to certain metals and she explained that she had trained because the government was looking for small women who could fit inside military equipment. She could have bragged about it but she was typically self-effacing and modest. Her humility is something we will all remember. When she lost her two sons and her mother in the same year, her family thought she might break. But she stayed strong and stoic and cared for her grandchildren and her husband even though her own heart was broken. When she lost her third son last year, that strength carried her through the worst of her heartbreak and enabled her to reach 100 years and celebrate at what she called “the best party I’ve ever had!” A devout Catholic, her faith gave her strength in the loss of her beloved husband and sons. She was a loving and devoted mother and Nana. Her loyalty, stoicism and strength set an example for her entire family. Upon reaching her 100th birthday, the City declared March 28, 2025 as Leandra “Lena” Vigil Baca Day in Albuquerque. She will be greatly missed. Rosary and Funeral Mass take place Friday, May 9 at 8:30 a.m. at Holy Family Church, 562 Atrisco SW. Burial takes place at Mt. Calvary Cemetery following the Mass, and a reception will be held after the burial at the Castell Event Center, 4500 Tower SW.