LUIS URREA

Luis Hernando Urrea, M.D. peacefully passed away at home surrounded by his family on the evening of December 25, 2012 at the age of 77. Dr. L. Hernando Urrea was born in Armenia, Colombia to Sara Emilia and Isidro Urrea on August 24, 1935 as the sixth of 12 brothers and sisters. He attended medical school at the Universidad del Valle in Cali, Colombia graduating salutatorian in 1962. He married Angela Vanegas, the love of his life, in 1963 and moved to Michigan completing an internal medicine residency at Detroit Memorial Hospital followed by a fellowship in gastroenterology. He returned to Cali, Colombia to practice in 1968. Seeking a better life for his family, Dr. Urrea permanently moved to the U.S. first completing a second fellowship in endoscopy at MD Anderson and eventually settling his young family in El Paso in 1972. He practiced Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology for nearly 40 years. He was known as a pioneer in his subspecialty, the first to perform many advanced endoscopic procedures in El Paso. Over the decades, he treated many thousands of patients, but his true professional legacy is the warm compassionate manner in which he cared for each of them. His warm smile, dedication, and calm professional manner endeared him to all. To this day his patients remember him fondly and often ask about him during clinic visits with his sons. When not caring for his patients, Dr. Urrea took great pride in his rose garden and fruit tree orchard. He was an avid hunter and fisherman enjoying this passion with friends and family. He also loved to travel the world with his loving wife and close friends. Most importantly, he dedicated his life to his family and served as the perfect example of a loving husband, father, grandfather, son, brother and friend. His strength of faith and love of God gave the family a strong sense of peace. Dr. Urrea is survived by his wife Angela to whom he was married for 49 years. His dedication and love for her is a model for all who knew him. He is also survived by his three children: Dr. Luis H. Urrea II and wife Barbara of El Paso, Dr. Robert Urrea and wife Patricia of El Paso, and Alexandra Goff and husband Matthew of Austin; his seven grandchildren: Hunter, Katriana, Cole, Nicolas, Jaden, Christina and Angela Sofia; and his siblings- Julio, Aurelio, Olga, Arturo and Lyda. Visitation will be held on Friday, December 28, 2012 from 5:00PM to 9:00PM, with a Vigil Service at 7:00PM at Martin Funeral Home West. Funeral Mass will be held on Saturday, December 29, 2012 at 10:00AM at St. Matthews Catholic Church, 400 W. Sunset. Interment will follow at Memory Gardens of the Valley Cemetery in Santa Teresa, NM. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to the American Brain Tumor Association (www.abta.org). The family wishes to extend our most sincere thanks to his dedicated medical team: Dr. Raul Portillo, Dr. Boris Kaim, Dr. David Masel, Dr. Anuradha Gupta, Dr. Carlos Velez, and Dr. Patricio Pazmino and their staff. For loving care in his final months we are grateful to Mariposa Hospice, Dr. Jose Lucero, Dr. Federico Anoveros, Dr. Jose Inube, Dr. Jaime Flores and Juan Zapata. Gracious thanks for the spiritual guidance and support of Rev. Monsignor David G. Fierro, Father Antonio Mena and the Sisters of Father Yermo, Servants of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Poor. Services entrusted to Martin Funeral Home West, 128 N. Resler Dr. El Paso, TX. www.MartinFuneralHomeWest.com