Angeline Valdez

Age 99, of Jackson, passed away on Wednesday, June 23, 2021. She was born in Acambaro, Guanajuato, Mexico on November 10, 1921. She is survived by one daughter, Stella (Tom) Valdez, and two sons, Arthur Jr. and Andrew Valdez; four grandchildren, Graciela (Jon) Metters, Arthur Valdez III, Megan (Jon) Sanborn, and Chad Fowler; three great-grand children; Kennedy and Elliot Sanborn, and Ella Metters; numerous nieces and nephews; three siblings; Esperanza (Rudy) Flores, Emmanuel Morales, and Richard (Sharon) Morales. Angeline was preceded in death by her husband, Arthur Valdez Sr., her parents, Francisco and Felicitas Morales, and her brother, Ernesto Morales, as well as numerous other siblings that passed away at younger ages.

Angeline's one regret was never graduating from high school. She entered the working world at an early age as a migrant worker, topping onions and pulling sugar beets in the fields of central Michigan, in order to help her family survive.

Soon after starting her own family, Angeline was employed full-time by Camp International as a seamstress for over thirty years – continuing to raise three children and keep a home as if it were no big deal. By example, she showed her children what one could accomplish with hard work and perseverance.

Angeline's passions were cooking and baking, both for her family and for others. She began cooking at age eleven. One could always detect the smells of delicious food (both Mexican and American) coming from her kitchen. No one can forget her "from scratch" apple pie and handmade tortillas.

Though raised traditionally, Angeline undertook many adventures, particularly in traveling. Angeline learned how to drive a bit later in life, realizing that it would give her the independence she desired. More than once, she shared driving duties from Michigan to California in the 1960s, accompanied by her three children. On another occasion, Angeline made that same journey, again with her children, on a train. Angeline also had the opportunity to visit her family in Mexico in the late 1970s after decades of being away. Additionally, she visited California and New York numerous times to visit her siblings.

Angeline was very proud of her heritage and reveled in her "Mexicanness"! But, she loved her adopted country, too, and studied hard to become an American citizen in 1978.

Angeline was a devout Catholic and truly lived her religion. She was a member of both the St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church and the Sacred Heart parish until her late onset of Alzheimer's disease, when she then continued watching church services on T.V. every Sunday morning.

Angeline cared for and tirelessly tended to the needs of her husband, Arthur, in the last nine years of his life as he courageously fought of the ravages of lung cancer.

Although Alzheimer's disease had taken hold of her mind and memory, Angeline was quite the example of good health. She walked without a walker or cane, and could climb up and down stairs, until her final visit to the hospital. She remained positive, generous and kind throughout her life and in the final chapter of her illness. She was loved by all!

The Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church on Thursday, July 1, 2021 at 11:00 AM. The Reverend James Shaver will be the celebrant.  The Mass will be livestreamed on St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church's Facebook Page. A private interment will take place at St. John's Cemetery.

The family will receive friends at the Desnoyer Funeral Home on Wednesday, June 30 from 2 to 4 and 6 to 8 PM with a Rosary Service 7:00 PM. The family will also receive friends at the Church on Thursday, July 1 from 10:00 to 11:00 AM.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions to the Alzheimer's Association would be appreciated.