Frances Dolores Budagher

Ready for a fairy tale?  Grab a cup of café con leche and pull up a chair!  At the ripe young age of 17 Frances left the lap of luxury in the island of Cuba to follow the most charming young man of Domingo Junction.  Left behind the Big 5 Country Clubs for Budagher's, New Mexico and never looked back!  Frances was steady and true and for 62 years remained captivated by the spontaneity and excitement that her husband, John Budagher brought to their marriage.  John adored Frances until the day he died.

They had a son, John A. Budagher and a daughter, Linda Budagher Dziak who were their pride and joy.  She was devoted to her family, pushed education, championed their causes, pushed education, encouraged their efforts, pushed education, and attended countless football games, all while pushing education!  She was blessed with five grandchildren and lived long enough to enjoy her 10 great-grandchildren.

She was fiercely proud of her Cuban heritage, enjoying Cuban music, dance and food.  She could not sit still if she heard a catchy tune and later in life would get up and dance with her walker!  She embraced her husband's Lebanese heritage, learning to cook his favorite meals, gathering annually with the Lebanese ladies to make Christmas cookies!  She learned to love our New Mexican cuisine as well and loved rancheras! One of the last songs she sang was Rancho Grande!   Frances was an incredible cook preparing meals that embraced all the cultures around her.   A meal at the Budagher home was like a mini United Nations with delectable, savory, sweet dishes that reflected those she loved and always with Cuban coffee!  Countless friends, kids of friends and grandkids of friends are enjoying café con leche because of Mom!   Before the Cuban revolution, she spent summers in Cuba visiting family and enjoying her Cuban culture. During the communistic revolution, Frances and John sponsored many family members as well as other Cuban refugees, providing a home and her resources as well as assisting in locating jobs and opportunities.  These refugees went on to become successful businessmen, doctors, lawyers and educators. We have been blessed with some reaching out to express their gratitude for mom's contribution in their success today.  We have witnessed her life-long friendships which are a testimony to her open heart.

Frances started working at Southern Union Gas Co. during the early 70's eventually retiring from the Gas Co. after more than 30 years of service.  Her organization, tenacity and strong work ethic led her to become the first female supervisor at the Gas Co., successfully breaking the glass ceiling many years before the phrase was coined.  She would put in a full day and then go to Budagher's Bar to help her husband where she would work until closing time.

Frances was always smiling, had a keen sense of style and lived with beauty and grace.  She was loved by all which was evident in the carinoso nicknames; Beba, Bebita and  Li'l G, to her siblings, in-laws, numerous aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, grandchildren and friends who loved her.  She was kind-hearted and would always take time to pull up a chair to listen, offering intuitive advice only if asked.  She had a tremendous giving heart, giving of herself, her time, and sharing her many blessings with anyone fortunate to be around her.  So much so, that when her daughter, Linda,  tragically died young, Frances helped raise two of her grandchildren as if they were her own.

A dedicated Catholic, Frances never missed mass (until the pandemic) and found great strength in the rosary.  She said she always had God in her heart and would share her faith and lead by quiet, profound example. In spite of all her many gifts, she remained with a humble heart and died peacefully a few days before her 94 ^th birthday.  We believe she was greeted in heaven by her adoring husband who is proudly dancing her around heaven to reunite with her loving daughter and her many family members and friends.  It must be a joy-filled reunion with Mom grinning her beautiful smile from ear to ear!

We are eternally grateful for the wonderful women who helped care for Mom with such kindness and grace:  Pauline, Isela, Soni, Claudia, Belinda, Diane and especially Alex Urbina who is an absolute angel on earth!

Frances will be dearly missed, but her legacy of love, kindness, hard work and championing family runs strong through all of us.  She is survived by her son, John A. Budagher (Sandi), grandchildren, John Dziak (Kristen), John Budagher III (Madeline), Joseph Budagher, Christopher Dziak (Barbara), Rachael Reardon (Will) and great-grandchildren, Johnny, Luke, Sean, Kara, Ava, Eli, Eve, Clara, Warren and Piper along with her sister, Mimi Garcia,  b-i-l, Billy Budagher (Dorothy) and Robert Budagher (Patty), and numerous nieces and nephews.  A fairy tale ending….maybe?  Grab another cup of café con leche and let's talk.

A private family service will be held due to covid risk, with a public memorial scheduled for the spring.