Dolores S. Lopez's Obituary
DOLORES SERNA LOPEZ, 1949 - 2025
It is with the heaviest of hearts and great sadness that we announce the peaceful passing of our beloved mother, Dolores Serna Lopez, on April 15, 2025, at the age of 75 in her family's home in Tucson, AZ. Dolores was born and raised in Clifton, Arizona, where she met and later married her teenage sweetheart, Enrique (Rick) Lopez, Jr, from the rival town of Morenci, AZ. Their 57 year union brought the most beautiful gifts in their six children, Bonnie, Mary Ann, Melissa, Daniela, Enrique Ill, and Jessica; plus, 22 grandchildren, and 24 great grandchildren. Dolores was perspicacious about death, torn between leaving her girls and their families (she was happiest at our very large family gatherings) and joining her much-loved, Rick.
Characterized by, "All people die, but not all people live," motto, Dolores did so with dare, a fun spirit, grace, dignity, and courage. She packed so much life into her seventy-five years embarking on many careers: domestic engineer, waitress, janitorial engineer, school bus driver, cook, store clerk, electrician's helper, insurance office clerk, photo lab processor, bartender, and her all-time favorite - a production haul truck operator at the Phelps Dodge Chino Mines Company in Hurley, New Mexico, before being forced into early retirement due to her terminal pulmonary disease.
She was athletic - playing softball and later coaching it; riding horses and raising them; feeling the open road on a Harley; excelling in bowling and scoring a perfect game - 300! Her love of cars came from her dad, Melecio Serna, attending car shows and you bet her head whipped around at the spot of a classic car while we drove to and from appointments. Our mom was also an avid football, basketball, and baseball fan; following her Notre Dame Fighting Irish, University of Arizona Wildcats, Golden Gate Warriors, and Arizona Diamondbacks. You could hear her rooting and cheering them on, miles away, from the comfort of her lazy boy recliner in her cozy bedroom.
In 2015, Dolores relocated with her husband to Tucson, Arizona to be near to the University of Arizona Medical Center- later Banner Medical Center-for treatment of diffuse idiopathic pulmonary neuroendocrine cell hyperplasia. In February 2021, she received a double lung transplant and survived over four years with her new lungs; her gifts as she always referred to them. She was a fighter and admired and adored by her pulmonary team and healthcare providers.
Dolores was always upbeat and positive, making sure to encourage all her family and friends through their trials and tribulations. You never saw her not wearing her radiant smile.
She is survived by her daughters, Bonnie Navarrete (Michael), Mary Ann Sanders (Fred), Melissa Monica (John), Daniela Torrez (Raymond), and Jessica Gallegos (David). Grandchildren, Joshua Sanders (Janessa), Kassaundra Lopez (James Cisneros), Jacob Sanders (Whitney), Nicholas Navarrete, Chelsea Haston (John), Billie Knauer (Trystin), Raymond Arsola (Paige), Kassadi Monica, Handsome Monica, Savannah Duran (Emilio), Jory Gallegos, Sydni Obert (Nathaniel), Dezirae Gallegos, Robert Viloria, Jazzmne Torrez, Marissa Siqueros (Christian), Gabriella Torrez (Isaiah Sanchez), Daviana Gallegos, Adrianna Torrez, Santi Gallegos, Tatyana Gallegos, and Cruz Gallegos. Great grandchildren, Maverick Obert, Capri Obert, Brady Sanders, Ava Sanders, Freddy Sanders, Laney Sanders, Samuel Sanders, Abigail Sanders, Thomas Sanders, Kaiden Knauer, Bradley Knauer, Abel Knauer, Delilah Knauer, Brooks Duran, Sawyer Mae Duran, Boston Duran, Jaxon Haston, Gabriella Haston, Jordan Haston, Taaliyha Arsola, Serenity Sanchez, Liam Arsola, Kendrick Gallegos, and Baby Siqueros. Sister, Helen Bradford (Robert deceased), Brother, Manuel Serna (Linda), Sister, Ernestina Campos (Rudy), Brother-in-Laws, Steve Lopez (Lynn), and John Lopez (Teresa), sister-in-law, Lisa Lopez (Daniel-deceased) and countless nieces, nephews, and cousins.
She is preceded in death by her husband, Enrique (Rick) Lopez, Jr., her son, Enrique Lopez Ill, her parents, Melecio and Elvera Serna, her parents in-law, Enrique and Dalia Lopez, her brother, Melecio Serna, and her brothers-in-law, Robert Bradford, and Daniel Lopez.
We are eternally grateful for the care and compassion shown by the pulmonary transplant team and all the staff on the 6th and 7th floors at Banner Hospital, Haven Home Health, and Lincare medical equipment supplier. Many of these dedicated healthcare providers became our mother's dearest of friends. Thank you for your loving, tender care of our precious mother, Dolores.
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