Maria Elia Cabezuela February 21, 1948 ~ June 29, 2026 (age 78)

Funeral services for Maria Elia Cabezuela, 78, of Portales will be held at 2:00 PM, Thurs., July 2, 2026 at the First Church of the Nazarene with Pastor Lisa Roberson officiating.  Burial will follow in the Portales Cemetery with Ben Munoz, Jr., Tony Munoz, Jimmy Munoz, Jessie Cabezuela, Armando Cabezuela, Jose Cabezuela, Lupe Cabezuela, Jesus Cabezuela, Manuel Cabezuela and Israel Cabezuela, Jr. serving as pallbearers.  Her 29 grandchildren will serve as honorary pallbearers.

Maria Elia Cabezuela was born on Feb. 21, 1948 in San Antonio de Brava, Mexico to the home of the late Moises and Genoveva Cabezuela, and died on the morning of June 29, 2026 in Portales.  As a child they moved to Candelaria, TX and later to Carlsbad, NM.  Maria was the second born of 13 siblings.

Maria met and married Ben Munoz, Sr. and had 7 children together.  She also raised one of her grandsons as her own.  In addition, she adopted a special needs baby and put her life on hold to take care of him.  He lived to be an adult, and passed in March of this year.

In 1973, Maria was divorced and was forced to work long hours to provide for her children.  She worked hoeing cotton, at the peanut mills and at the Selected Casings plant.  Maria worked hard and never complained.  She made sure her children did not go without necessities.

Maria enjoyed springtime with family and friends.  She also enjoyed dancing, karaoke and going to the casino.  She also enjoyed watching westerns with her son, Steven.  Maria loved her roses.  She also enjoyed cooking.  Her signature dish was Calabaza and red chili, and always made sure no one left hungry.

She is survived by four daughters, Diana Sigala, Johanna Villagas, Mary Ann Munoz and Geneva Nevarez; four sons, Ben Munoz, Jr., Tony Munoz, Jimmy Munoz and Jessie Cabezuela.  She also had two loving daughters-in-law, Mari Munoz and Laura Munoz, and a great friend, Shawn McNeal who helped care for her during her last days.  She is survived by 29 grandchildren, 49 great-grandchildren and 3 great-great-grandchildren, seven brothers, Jessie Cabezuela, Armando Cabezuela, Jose Cabezuela, Lupe Cabezuela, Jesus Cabezuela, Manuel Cabezuela and Israel Cabezuela, Jr. and two sisters, Armida Alvarado and Lucy Cabezuela, as well as countless nieces and nephews.  She was preceded in death by her parents, one son and one grandson.

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