Hilda Ortiz de Lang 1937-2010
It is with great sadness that we note the sudden yet peaceful passing of our dear Mother, Wife and Grandmother on Sunday, December12 in Yuma, Arizona. God chose to take Mom on her patron saint’s day, La Virgin de Guadalupe. We take comfort in knowing this brings special meaning to her.
Mom lived a very gracious, noble life, placing family, husband and children as the single most important aspect of life. One of the highlights for her was this year’s July celebration of her 50th wedding anniversary, a full religious marriage ceremony and a memory-filled cruise surrounded by her children and grandchildren.
Hilda Ortiz Pacheco, Mom’s maiden name, was born in Tuxtepec, Oaxaca, Mexico on July 20, 1937. Her father was a very traditional Spaniard and her mother Mexican. Her education was in Puebla, Mexico in Public Accounting.
On August 14, 1960 she married a young Canadian/American Engineer who took her to Brazil for their first 16years as a married couple. Three children later, and a few years of residence in Ridgefield, Connecticut, they settled in Cranbrook, BC before retirement in Sidney, BC.
Rich family heritage, marked by strong traditions coupled with transcontinental living experiences of North, South America and Europe enriched all our lives. More than ever before we have now come to understand Christian family values and to cherish the many stories and traditions about which Mom so often spoke.
Her Roman Catholic faith was to her a pillar of strength and made her a loving person who gave generously to many causes.
Mom’s 73 unique years were filled almost exclusively with good fortune and good health and a loving husband who cherished her.
Mom is survived by her husband of 50 years, Stuart, and children Alana (Geoff) Neads of Salem, Oregon, Allan (Kathy) Lang of Birmingham, Alabama and Alexis (Gary) Lunn of Sidney, BC and her grandchildren, Maribel, Stuart, David, Alan, Victoria, Nicholas, Ariana and Christopher. She is also survived by two brothers in Mexico and countless cousins and family members in Puebla, Veracruz and Tuxtepec in Mexico and Santander, Borlena, and Palma de Mallorca, Spain.
Our mother we know is now fully at peace and with a smile is looking at and praying for all this family as well as the many dearest of friends in such faraway places as Lajes, Sao Paulo and other places in Brazil where she spent many very happy years of her colorful life.
Mom’s home has been British Columbia for the last 25 years and knowing her commitments a service will be held at Our Lady of Assumption, 7742 West Saanich Rd, Central Saanich,BC on Tuesday, December 21 at 10:30 am. Recognizing mom’s wishes a final service will be held in Virgin Del Carmen, Puebla, Mexico in early February.
In lieu of flowers, given mom’s generous support of numerous causes, please donate to a charity of your choice.