We write with heavy hearts to acknowledge that our Mama and Nana, Mary M. Sedillo, passed away in her home with her family by her side. She will be deeply missed. She is preceded in death by her father and mother – Jose D. and Maria V. Medina; her husband Abel Sedillo; her sons James "Jim" (Justice of the Peace), Frank, and Robert Sedillo; and grandson Javier "Xavier" Sedillo.
Mary, was born on April 21, 1928, and she passed away on January 24, 2021. She lived and breathed her entire 92 years in Flagstaff and we know that she touched many hearts throughout her time here. Mary, grew up in La Plaza Vieja, the "Old Town" of Flagstaff, an historically Latino-Hispanic neighborhood of our city. And, in that same area she would later raise her five children and watch over her nine grand-children.
Mary worked at Ted's Department Store in the 1960's, which was followed by several waitressing stints at the La Casita Mexican Restaurant, The Lumberjack Cafe, and then again at La Casita. She retired at age 53 to care for her sons, Frank and Robert, which was one of her many sacrifices and contributions that she made for her family and our community. Mary, raised five upstanding American citizens. Two of her sons served in Vietnam and one of her sons – James J. Sedillo – served as Justice of the Peace for Flagstaff and later represented Flagstaff as an Arizona State House Representative. Her two remaining children led successful careers and retired from their professions.
Our mom and nana savored the simple things in life – like a bottomless cup of coffee, or eggs over easy on top of pancakes smothered with peanut butter and salsa, and a gardened yard teeming with flowers and life. She also relished watching live sports, movies and television. We remember her decades by the genres of movies, T.V., and sporting events that were shared with her in her living room: from horror flicks to karate dust ups; to telenovelas and westerns like Gunsmoke & Bonanza; to cheering on her Raiders, Cardinals, Suns, and D-Backs. Mary was a consummate fan of almost everything on television.
We remember her innumerable qualities, such as her beautiful smile and wonderful personality and we see her in all of us – every one of us that breathes because of who she was, and is. She is survived by her son & daughter-in-law, Abel and Lorraine Sedillo, and daughter Patricia "Patty" Sedillo, her eight grand-children, twenty-four great, grand-children, and nine great, great grand-children. For us that carry on, we recognize that we owe her our lives and we thank her from the bottom of our hearts.
In lieu of flowers, we ask to please make a contribution to those in need or a foundation that she contributed to such as: the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF), Veterans Affairs or any mental health advocacy group.
Due to Covid – the Sedillo family intends on holding a memorial service to celebrate her life at a later day in 2021. Thank you Mom and Nana for you, and for everything you gave us!
We would also like to thank the staff at Compassus Hospice of Flagstaff for their support during this difficult time. Memories and condolences can be shared with the family at norvelowenmortuary.com.