Nellie Albillar Avila

Nellie Albillar Avila, 103, passed away on May 10, 2017-- on Mexican Mother's Day -- at her home in Indio, California, surrounded by many of her children, grandchildren, great grandchildren and great-great grandchildren.

Nellie Albillar was born on January 29, 1914, in Anthony, New Mexico. The spirited, independent matriarch of a large Mexican-American family, Nellie's life centered around her love of family and faith.

She fell in love and married Cleofas Avila on October 29, 1929. They celebrated 65 years of marriage before Cleofas passed away in 1994. Together, they had five daughters and three sons. Nellie and her husband lived in both Mexico and the United States. She was a resident of Indio for the past 67 years. She lived in the same home for the past 50 years until her death.

Nellie loved family traditions and helped to keep them alive throughout her long life. Every year in early December, she brought her family together to make one thousand tamales. Then on Christmas Eve, she would welcome her family of more than 75 children, grandchildren, great grandchildren and great-great grandchildren into her home to eat tamales and to celebrate Christmas as an extended family -- a tradition that spanned 64 years.

A devoted Catholic, Nellie praticed her faith in everyday acts of kindness, generosity and charity throughout her life. She volunteered her time with Catholic Daughters of America and for Martha's Village and Kitchen to make and serve food for those in need. When age made it more difficult for her to volunteer in person, she found ways to make a difference at home -- knitting hats in her free time that she asked her grandchildren to distribute to local homeless charities in the winter.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Cleofas, her daughters Maria Avila, Toni Avila Brown and Julia Avila Luna, her sons-in-law, Frank Luna and Gene Brown, her grandchildren Patsy Choco, Frank Avila Luna, Diane Morales and Sara Avila. Nellie is survived by her children and spouses, Beatrice and Ray Perez, Socorro and Lalo Morales, Jesse and Marina Avila, Fred and Ann Avila, and Bobby and Eleda Avila. Known as "Big Nana" to her many grandchildren, Nellie's legacy lives on through her 31 grandchildren, 44 great grandchildren and 6 great-great grandchildren.

A Catholic mass and funeral service will be held on Wednesday, May 17, 2017. The family asks that in lieu of flowers that donations be made to Galilee Center, 66-101 Hammond Road, Mecca 92254 760-396-9100