Lourdes Digna (Mila) Bonet joined her beloved husband of over 50 years, Ely, in heaven on February 3, 2024 with family by her side. Lourdes spread joy, held unwavering Catholic faith and displayed incredible strength throughout her 85 years on this earth. Her smile and kindness live on with her only daughter, Beatriz Bonet, and granddaughter Jessica (Stephen) Arendas and great-grandchildren Shoshanna and Braxton. She is also survived by her foster son, Lazaro Lavin (Stefanie, Maritza and Malaya), brother Pablo (Irela) Mila, many cousins especially Grethel Sarabia, Amalie Torres, Josefina Ortiz; and many nieces, nephews and extended family she loved dearly. She is preceded on this journey by her husband, Ely, parents, Elisa (Alegre) and Jose Mila, brother Jose (Betty) Mila, and many loved ones she held dear along the way.

Lourdes had an incredible gift of gab and would spend hours on end retelling stories from her full life in Cuba before coming to the US to flee communism by way of Superior, Wisconsin with baby Bea, in addition to her beautiful extended family tales, favorite bits from world travels with Ely, and her fun extensive network of friends and loved ones. Her work teaching migrant children in the Madison Metropolitan School District touched many lives and showcased her passion for service within her communities. She loved teaching and helping people learn English, as she had done herself many years before. Her beautiful blue eyes, always complemented by some meaningful piece of jewelry, and signature style were magnetic and just made you want to be by her.

When she and Ely retired from Wisconsin to New Mexico over 20 years ago, they found a whole new network of friends, neighbors and caregivers, which filled her life with even more joy. Lourdes was always a people person and loved being in community at her church - reading, doing rosaries, or helping where she could. Her enduring faith sustained her until the end.

We are all better for having experienced her stories, her empathy and kindness, her light and her love. We all miss her very much.

Services will be held at Holy Cross Catholic Church in Las Cruces, NM on Thursday, February 29 at 02:30pm (Rosary at 02:00pm) and Holy Redeemer in Madison, WI (details forthcoming). In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in her honor to St. Jude Children's Hospital, an organization that Lourdes supported for many years, or Mesilla Valley Hospice Care.

Service arrangements have been entrusted to the care of Baca's Funeral Chapel of Las Cruces and Sunset Crematory, 300 E. Boutz Road, 527-2222. Your exclusive provider for "Veterans and Family Memorial Care." For online condolences logon to www.bacasfuneralchapelslascruces.com