Veronica Parra

On November 2, 2024, our beloved, sweet girl Veronica "Nika" Parra departed this world much too young to join the choir of angels in heaven. Though she fought with amazing strength and endurance, the cancer that had metastasized and aggressively spread throughout her body took its final toll. She was 36 years old.
Veronica was born on December 8, 1987. To say that Veronica loved music and loved to dance and loved to sing, fails to convey how music touched all aspects of her life. She embodied music and expressed her affinity for all things music at a very early age, singing and playing flute. As an adult she taught vocal and instrumental music to children at St. Pious Catholic School, was contracted to teach private lessons, sing and play keyboard for special events, was a keyboard accompanist and vocalist in several church choirs, including Our Lady of the Valley and Mount Carmel Catholic Churches. Nika collaborated with other musicians on a variety of music styles and through various music channels. Her stage name was Nika LeStrange as one of the members of the horror rock band Epitaph Romance. She was talented beyond measure and her magnificent voice was sheer poetry.
Veronica attended and graduated from Bel Air high school in 2006, was first chair flute player but also played guitar, clarinet, trombone, self-taught keyboard, and several other instruments. She also attended EPCC and UTEP where she was just a few credits shy of her bachelor's degree in music.
A true lover of the comedic, Nika loved to laugh, but especially enjoyed making others laugh to cause an uproarious harmony of joy. She was well known for suffering from laughing fits and spurring others to do likewise. Once Nika was sent to the principal's office in middle school for this boisterous laughter, and as an adult, while a guest visitor to NMSU, she disrupted a math class with one of her giggling fits everyone came to love.
Always such a joy to be around, there is no doubt that Veronica also exuded kindness from her being. She loved helping others and served as a childcare worker for Our Loving Mother's Daycare and as a home health aide for People Care. She assisted her elderly grandmother Teresa with running errands, taking her to doctor appointments and grocery shopping. Nika enjoyed working with children too, and worked at Peter Piper Pizza to not only help pay the bills but, to also enjoy the pleasure of children having fun. Many would agree she was a big kid herself.
Veronica is preceded in death by her grandparents Mr. Manuel Rosales Jr. and Mrs. Mercedes N. Rosales, Mr. Manuel Parra and Mrs. Teresa J Parra, Veronica 's father David J. Parra, uncles Manuel Parra Jr., Rafael Parra, Marcelo, David Ryan, and her previous partner Ricardo Bravo.
Veronica is survived by her mother, Yolanda R. Parra, siblings Victoria and David Parra; half-brother, Enrique 'Kiki" Cabral; niece Esmeriah Jones, her partner Guillermo Morales, her cat La Carlotta, nephew-dog Hercules, aunts, uncles, cousins, and boundless friends she has made throughout her life. Mija, you will never be forgotten.
Please join us in celebrating the life of our sweet girl. Services will take place on Wednesday, November 13th, 2024, with visitation service from 5-9 pm, rosary to commence at 6 pm at Perches Funeral home, 7580 Alameda Ave.
Funeral mass will take place on Thursday, November 14th, 2024, at 10 am at Our Lady of the Valley Catholic Church, 8600 Winchester Dr. Interment will follow at 11:30 am at Mount Carmel Cemetery, 401 Zaragoza Rd.