Matilda Donna Louise Valdez-Contreras

My Mother, Matilda Donna Contreras Valdez, was born in a small northern New Mexico town in 1955. Her father, Don Valdez, was a war veteran and high school principal. Her mother, Lila Garcia Valdez, helped run the family store. Donna was driven by a strong desire to help people who weren't able to help themselves, not only as an RN but in general. She was always guaranteed to pick up a stray human that needed help and support. This was just who she was. She raised my brother, Miguel Angel Contreras Jr, and myself (Sonia Veronica Contreras) the best she could, and although at times she was far from perfect, she always tried to make the hardest situations fun. Like when she turned the tragedy of our home catching on fire into a summer of camping adventurers in the backyard. In addition to Miguel and myself, she leaves behind her sisters, Evelyn and Marsha and Pamela Valdez, as well as her brothers, Kenneth, Clarence, and Virgil Valdez, along with her grandchildren: Indiga, Sabbith, Zyan, and Sapphire Contreras, and Kobe Contreras-Plath. She also leaves behind everyone that has been touched by her life. There aren't enough words to fully express the vast impact that she made on the world and she will be forever missed.