Vicente G Mendiola

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved Father, Grandfather and great-grandfather VICENTE G. MENDIOLA.  He passed away on November 27th at the age of 72. He was born in the Rancho 22 de Febrero, right outside Bermejillo, Durango in Mexico.

Vicente came to the United States in 1967 at the age of 19.  He had nothing to his name but his willingness to learn and create a better life for himself.  Shortly after arriving he met Mary Ellen Nevarez and they were married a short time later.  They moved to Los Angeles, CA for a couple of years and returned after the birth of their second child.  They bought a house and began to work towards a better life.

Vicente worked as for Burns Construction for 10 years as a Mason worker.  He began working out of his garage doing upholstery in the evenings and weekends, a trade that he learned from his brother in-law Oscar.  He left Burns Construction in 1981 to pursue his dream of owning his own upholstery business.  He opened his shop Las Cruces Upholstery where he could be found everyday working his magic on an old family heirloom, a restaurant booth or restoring the interior of a classic vehicle.  He was up to any challenge in making the old, tattered and run down look better than new.  He worked his business for 40 years with his son Vince Jr., is late wife Nena and his daughters Ludim and Liz.  He took pride in the fact that his business was indeed family owned and operated.  He loved that he was able to have us all so close every day.  Ludim and Junior were the lucky ones that go to work close with him on a daily basis.  He loved that all of his grandchildren and great-grandchildren grew up in the shop also, “shop babies” as we like to call them. We all had the very best childhood. Dad would stop whatever he was doing to play store with me, ride go carts with Jr., eat chips with Rosita, and play cars with Rylan. He was never too busy to spend time with us.  Even as adults, he would stop what he was doing to bring us lunch or coffee if we needed it.

Dad was a man of faith, a person that would give unselfishly, never expecting anything in return and did not hold grudges. He would lend a hand if you needed it.  He was a true servant of God, on November 14th dad had served the Lord faithfully for 50 years. 50 years ago, he gave his life to the Lord. He had planned on going back to his home church the 5ta Iglesia Apostolica in Juarez to give his testimony. And what a testimony his life truly was. A giving man that put Christ at the center of everything he did. He would volunteer to help build and repair the church, he cooked to raise money for church campaigns, he was a member of the men’s group at the church where he served as a secretary and then president. He sang in the church with a group that even got to travel and sing at the Mexican National Convention of Apostolic churches in Guadalajara. He made lifelong friendships in the church that He attended that church for 39 years, sadly due to the health of his wife, they had to find a church closer to home. After the death of his wife, he began attending the Apostolic Tabernacle in Las Cruces and continued to serve the Lord. Dad gave thanks to God for all things all the time.  He did not worry about the small stuff because he knew that the Lord would provide as long as we had faith and we were willing to put in the work.  He spent a lot of time studying the word and in prayer. Each day he would kneel in his bedroom, next to an old wooden chair and pray. He had wonderful relationship he had with the Lord.

Dad was a very hard worker. He came to the US at the age of 19 with nothing but a dream of a better life.  He brought his dream to life by owning his own business for over 40 years. Building a reputation for himself as honest, and providing quality workmanship in his upholstery business. His work is in many homes and businesses in the Las Cruces and surrounding areas. When he wasn’t working at the shop, he was pouring concrete at one of our houses or a neighbor, working in his garden or fixing something at someone’s house. If there was daylight, he was always doing something.

The Funeral Service for Mr. Mendiola will begin at 10 AM Wednesday, December 15, 2021 at Las Cruces First, 5605 Bataan Memorial West, Las Cruces with Pastors Paul Vistine and Sergio Alvarez officiating.  Concluding Service and Interment will follow at Hillcrest Memorial Gardens Cemetery, 5140 W. Picacho Avenue.

Serving as casket bearers will be Martin, Fabian and Isaiah Dorado, Jake Wilkins, Donovan Lopez and Jesus Mendiola.

Service arrangements have been entrusted to the care of Baca’s Funeral Chapels of Las Cruces, 300 E. Boutz Road, 527-2222. Your exclusive provider for “Veterans and Family Memorial Care.” For online condolences logon to www.bacasfuneralchapelslascruces.com