Mary Helen Avina Giberti was beckoned home by her Lord on Tuesday, November 20, 2012, after a joyous life punctuated by the love she shared with her extended family and all who knew her.

Born in El Paso, Texas on September 5, 1948, "Lulu" became one of the first victims of polio in New Mexico at the tender age of three, but her lifelong struggle against the crippling disease never got the best of her beautiful spirit and warmth. She spent much of her youth at Carey Tingley Hospital in Truth or Consequences, where she underwent extensive medical treatment for her disabling illness. While attending college in eastern New Mexico, she met the love of her life, Steve, whom she ultimately married in 1972 after a romantic courtship. They cherished the three wonderful gifts of God they received in Stephanie Joy, Audra Dawn, and Ryan Stephen, whom she loved and mothered with all of her heart. Equally blessed were her many uncles, aunts, cousins, and friends, whom she showered with love and devoted support. To have been blessed by her love was a unique experience only they could know. She cherished every opportunity to call or write them to tease them and make them laugh, which she did with great regularity. She shared in all their joys and took on all their sorrows; her heart shored up all who knew her-her caring and giving seemingly limitless. So, it is with a very heavy heart that all of them reluctantly prepare to bid her farewell, comforted only by the knowledge that she is dancing happily in heaven on her own two feet.

With her are her two children, Audra and Ryan, whom God called before he called her, and also at her side are her "Gramita" and "Popi" and her beloved parents-in-law, Harold (Butch) and Elenor Giberti. Lulu is survived by her loving and devoted husband Steve, daughter Stephanie Joy, mother Elena Hernandez of Silver City, grandchildren Cooper Rogers of NM, MacKenzie Rose Morales of AZ, and D'Glayne Dawn Giberti of AZ, brothers Eddie (Arlene) of CO, Mike (Linda) of NM, and Manny Hernandez of AZ, and brother Fred (Yolanda) Avina of CA, brothers-in-law Richard (Joyce) of FL, Ron of FL, John (Cheryl) of MA, James (Kristen) of VT, scores of Zamora, Giberti, and O'Brien aunts, uncles, cousins and cousins-in-law from coast to coast, and a circle of friends the extent of which is known only to God.

The Rosary will be held at Terrazas Funeral Home in Santa Clara, NM, at 6:30pm on Tues. November 27, 2012. The funeral mass will be held at 10 am on Wed. November 28th 2012 at St. Francis Newman Center in Silver City followed by internment in Ft Bayard National Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Cooper Rogers, Chris Arellano, Ron Giberti, Mike Hernandez, Javier and Andrew Zamora. Honorary pallbearers will be Gerra Martinez, Elifas Zamora, Elvira Walters, Aurora Mendoza, Tommy Zamora, Ellie Maldonado, Robert Zamora and Rosemary Arellano. Arrangements are with Terrazas Funeral Chapels "Trusted care for the ones you love" ~ 575-537-0777. To send condolences, visit www.terrazasfuneralchapel.com