“As water reflects the face, so one’s life reflects the heart.”
Proverbs 27:19
Concepcion (Conchita) Castaneda Abeyta, age 92, of Miami, Arizona, passed away on May 30, 2023, with family surrounding her. Conchita was preceded in death by husband Carlos G. Abeyta (2013) and daughter Aurora Otero (2019). Conchita is survived by four of her children, Carlos Abeyta, Jr. (Teresa) of Bothell, Washington, Stella Simental (Juan) of Oakley, California, Manuel Abeyta (Lorie) of Miami, Arizona and Priscilla Ann (Richard) of Marysville, Washington; 11 grandchildren; 24 great-grandchildren; 8 great-great-grandchildren; one brother, Andres Castaneda (Nan) of San Diego, California; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Our mother’s life was a true testimony of love, compassion and service. As you see her smile she wore, it came straight from the heart. Her story begins at her birth on Jan. 2, 1931, in Phoenix, Arizona. She is the surviving twin, her brother Ernesto. She is the youngest of the family of three brothers and six sisters. The age difference between the oldest sibling to mom is 24 years. At eight years old, Grandma Zerfernia made a move to Miami, where mom graduated 8th grade from Bullion Plaza School at the age of 18. Mom always said that her mother took her out of school to make many trips to Mexico and to work at her mother’s Mexican restaurant La Fiesta, where she eventually met Dad in 1948. A year later, on July 30, 1949, they married in Florence, Arizona and started a family in the early 1950s. Mom and Dad were married for 64 years, serving at the Miami Baptist Mission Church. Mom was a pastor’s wife for many years; she taught Sunday School classes, and was a choir director and treasurer. Her life was fully dedicated to her church and family and friends. She was a member of the First Southern Baptist Church of Miami for many years.
One can certainly write a book about Mom; this is a glimpse of Mom’s testimony. Today on this day, we celebrate her blessed life. Mom is the epitome of the virtuous woman as described in Proverbs 31…a virtuous woman as one who leads her home with integrity, discipline and more. All the virtues she practiced were aimed at making her husband’s life better, teaching her children and serving God.
The love of a mother is the most tender evidence of the Love of God (El amor de una madre es la prueba mas tierna del gran amor de Dios).
Love,
Carlos Jr., Stella, Manuel and Priscilla
