Linda Emily Lopez

On Thursday, March 4, 2021, our Mom, Linda Emily Lopez, received her wings. She was born to Felix and Clorinda Abeyta on Sept. 22, 1947, in Denver, Colo. She joined three sisters, Lucy, Patsy, and Reina. Years later she gained four more siblings, Roger, Judy, David and Lawrence.

She grew up in Denver and graduated from Lincoln High School. As a youth she had fond memories of playing with her siblings and cousins on "Goat Hill,” skating on a pond in Washington Park and down town at the May D and F rink.

She always loved to spend time with her family, that love never wavered. Her family called her LaLa. She was also in her own words "a roller skating fanatic" and "one track minded to go skating.” She skated competitively and was really good. Sharing many great memories of roller skating at Roller City West with her sisters, especially Reina, was when she would light up the most.

She also swam and played the clarinet (first string) in the Lincoln High School marching band. Loving swimming she was the first one to dive into our Aunt Lucy's cold pool at the beginning of the summer and always game to start a water fight. We have many great memories of swimming, mostly at my Aunt Lucy's and at snow creek. She loved the family picnics at Snow Creek, Jensen’s for the holidays, ice-skating on the golf course ponds, and any family get togethers for that matter.

After high school she married Joseph (Al) Lopez. Our parents were blessed with not one, not two but four daughters, Erica, Andrea, Rhonda and the baby of the family, Jodeen. When we were young she would make our clothes to match each other, have our hair in ponytails or curled (pin curls — lots of effort there).

She would get compliments on how well we always looked, which she took great pride in. As adults she taught us that you don't have to have a lot of money to look nice, dress and carry yourself well and take pride in how you look regardless of your size. Most of all that beauty comes from within.

She and Joseph later divorced and she followed her family to Bonners Ferry, Idaho, in 1974 to raise us. She worked at "Jensen's County Fair" store and at her mother's Mexican restaurant, MaMa's. Many great memories were made decorating a float for all of the Bonners Ferry parades.

We can honestly say our Mom was the best example of how to love God, forgive others, and have appreciation and also how to have fun and just enjoy being a kid. If you asked for her help with a project, look out. She would to turn a small project or idea into an amazing one. If something required ribbon, bling, hot glue guns or decorating, she was your girl. She was so creative in anything she did.

She loved crafts, crocheting, getting dressed up and encouraging others to participate with her whenever she got a chance. "Fair" time is what she really looked forward to every year. Her creative streak would take charge and she always had many “fair" entries receiving many ribbons that she was always so proud of. She also enjoyed being a Sunday school teacher at the Assembly of God Church.

She loved her grandchildren so very much. She taught them all how to try and wake up happy singing the "Good Morning, God" song. Like her daughters, she instilled her faith and love of God in her grandchildren while constantly praying over all of us. You could always tell when she was "praying for you.”

She loved spring. She adopted a grandmother’s tradition which is after seeing the first robin of spring she would have a picnic with her grandchildren. Also after the first snow she loved to build a snowman with them. Good memories for them.

Also when visiting her they would watch “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory”. She always made sure they had hot chocolate, a candy bar or even chocolate chips for the movie — anything chocolate.

Our Mom had costumes galore! There are many who can attest to that. On many occasions we would go to her house if we needed one or even just a prop. The grandkids would play dress-up for hours. She always had the best “stuff."

She decided to move to the Boundary County Restorium, where she spent the last couple of years before getting her wings. She loved her new friends and new life. She said she enjoyed being a part of that group. She compared it to going to "Church Camp" with all the fun she had. She had so many close friends (you know who you are).

However, if you asked her, her favorite place she lived would have to be Hawaii. She was only there for a couple of years but enjoyed life to the fullest while there and created many great memories with her sister Lucy, her family and additional family members that lived there.

Her sweet smile fooled many. She contained a witty sense of humor and always had an innocent look to go with it, always just in fun. She didn't have a mean bone in her body. Our Mom's heart was so full of love and compassion for us, family members and many countless individuals. She had patience like no other and always had an ear to offer any time, place, day or night, and without judgement.

She had a pure heart and always tried to be and live the best Christian life she could. She raised four girls and as far as any of us know she never drank, smoked or cussed. Wow! Yes, she was that good. We often teased her and would call her "Mrs. God,” which always brought a big smile to her face. She was definitely an inspiration and faithful servant. A rock for many, she was as my sister said, already an angel.

Our mother Linda is preceded in death by her parents, Felix and Clorinda Abeya; sisters, Reina Hedding and Patsy Youngworth; and brothers, Roger and David Abeyta. She is survived by her daughters, Erica (Gene) Denning, Andrea Lopez, Rhonda (Mike) Megale, and Jodeen Lopez. She also leaves behind her loving grandchildren, Joseph (Jocelyn) Denning, Reina Lopez, Brianna (Joe) LoPorto, Alek (Candace) Lopez, Brandon (Holly) Megale, Miranda  Merrifield, and Derek Lopez; her great-grandchildren, Neriah, Waylon, Holly Loporto, Nicholas Harris, Isla, Hadi Denning, Isabella Megale (expected any day); her sister, Lucy (Doug) Jensen; Judy (Allen) Dillin, Lawrence Abeyta; and numerous nieces, nephews and their families that she always kept close to her heart.

If you had the opportunity to know our Mom, Linda, we believe you were truly blessed, I know we were. For those of you who came into her life briefly or long term you can bet you were always in her thoughts and prayers. If at any point in her life you were there for our Mom, thank you.