Hepolita Navarro Cantu

We are sad to announce the passing of our dear Mother, Hepolita Navarro Cantu, on September 14, 2023, in Temecula, Ca at the age of 91 years old.

Hepolita was born in La Feria, Texas on August 22, 1932, to parents Feliciano Navarro & Maria Navarro alongside her thirteen brothers & sisters.

She met & later married Candelario Cantu in Brownsville, Texas October 26, 1954, where they lived and raised their first two daughters. They later moved to Pocatello, Idaho in 1959 where they raised the remainder of their family and resided for more than 30 years. Hepolita worked as a harvester, a processor at Kraft Foods and even had her own businesses such as a restaurant and her shop known as Pola's Mexican Imports. She was known to be a loved member of the community. Many will know her for her famous tamales.

Alongside her husband, Hepolita enjoyed spending time traveling to see her family and friends, cooking her well known dishes, and tending to her garden. Above all, she was a devoted Catholic follower & held her beliefs close to her heart- teaching her family to always have God in their life.

She was an amazing Wife, Mother, Great Grandmother & Great-Great Grandmother who was always there to make jokes or give wisdom to those who needed it.

Hepolita was predeceased by her three sons Candelario Cantu JR, Philip Cantu and James Cantu; her parents Feliciano & Maria Navarro and her eleven brothers and sisters. She is survived by her husband married for 69 years to Candelario Cantu, her brother Jose Wenseslado Navarro & sister Maria Mauricia Aleman; her daughters San Juanita Briseño, Graciela Rodriguez, Mary Cantu-Velasquez, Carol Reyes & Carmen Marie Avalos; 14 grandchildren; 26 great grandchildren and one great-great grandchild.

Celebration of life will be taking place on October 27th, 2023 at 1 pm at the Holy Spirit Catholic Church. Located at 524 N 7th Ave. Pocatello, Idaho. Dinner to follow in the basement.