Elfmont, Rebecca Valencia

Rebecca Valencia Elfmont died on

July 16, 2017 after a prolonged battle with cancer. She was 74 years old. Rebecca was born and raised in Farmington, New Mexico, the daughter of Peter Joe Valencia and Fedelina Trujillo Valencia. Her siblings are Peter Valencia Jr., a field representative for Representative Ben Lujan; Eugene Valencia, owner of Valencia Insulation; and Linda Valencia Martinez, an artist and craftswoman who lives in Albuquerque. Rebecca was blessed to have three wonderful children: Lena Elfmont of Los Angeles, Suzannah Modzelewski and her husband Dan of Phoenix, and Tomas Elfmont and his wife Samantha of Washington D.C. In addition, Rebecca loved her grandchildren Mattilyn, Samantha and Thomas. Rebecca also left behind her special friend and companion of long duration, Dr. Jon Hurd whom she loved very much. Rebecca will dearly miss all those in her life.

Rebecca learned early in life that she loved to read, and it served her well. She received a Bachelor’s of Science from the University of New Mexico, a Master’s Degree from New Mexico State University and a second Masters from California State University, Dominguez Hills. She was a special educator for over 40 years in California and New Mexico and always strove to help those in need.

In addition, Rebecca had what could only be described as an unusual sense of humor and affinity for the arts. In the final stage of life she said dying was "for the birds". You never knew what to expect when opening a closet in her house, which was often filled with gag gifts or macabre masks. Rebecca’s children thought her pottery and art projects were weird beyond belief, but they embodied a spirit of life, a streak of independence and defiance, which made her stridently unique.

Rebecca’s Rosary will be at 7pm Aug. 3 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Farmington. A funeral mass & luncheon will follow the next day at 10am.