Luz Maria Sierra

Luz Maria Sierra

April 2, 1926 — May 2, 2024

East Moline

Luz Maria Sierra, 98, of East Moline, passed away, May 2, 2024, at her residence

Funeral Mass will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, May 8, 2024, at Christ the King Catholic Church, Moline. Visitation will be from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, May 7, 2024, at Esterdahl Mortuary & Crematory, Ltd., Moline, with a rosary to be recited at 3:30 p.m. Burial will be at Greenview Memorial Gardens. Memorials may be made to the family.  

Maria de la Luz was born on April 2, 1926, in León, Guanajuato in Mexico, the daughter of Maria Anguiano and Jose Godinez. She met Emanuel Terronez Sierra at Our Lady of Guadelupe Church in Silvis, IL in 1945 and they were married on February 18, 1946, in León, Guanajuato and honeymooned in Mexico before setting up their household in the U.S. Luz was a devout Catholic and a member of Christ the King Catholic Church. Previously a member of Our Lady Of Guadelupe in Silvis and St. Mary’s East Moline.  She also a member of her local parish in Leon GTO. She volunteered at every church in every capacity from cantoring, to singing with the choirs, to cooking, to emceeing, to cleaning, to lecturing and serving as a Eucharistic Minster. She volunteered for many years for the OLG Mexican Fiestas on 4^th Street Silvis. 

She started working full-time at Mother’s Pie in East Moline, then Fresh Pack Candies in Moline.  Finally working as a custodian for Millard Maintenance for over 20 years mostly at the Deere Administration Building. As a teenager Luz was also a professional singer in both the US and Mexico. Singing on the radio in Mexico and recorded commercial jingles. 

Never one to forget her Mexican family and traditions, she always, no matter what, would always return to Mexico to visit her mother, siblings, aunts, uncles, cousins and siblings.  She would take her kids by train, bus, automobile and later by plane to Leon.   It was a lot easier to do by train as her husband worked for the Rock Island Lines.  The trips became her children’s summer vacation adventures.

She never turned away anyone who came to our house in East Moline—All were welcomed with refreshments and rest, including her children’s many friends. Nephews from Mexico finding work in the QC would live at our house for years and they were treated like her own sons. Luz learned to cook by watching her Mother-In-Law, who told her have her kids eat bread because home-made tortillas was labor intensive, but Luz learned to make them by hand to please her family and made thousands in her lifetime. Whenever it was potluck time at the places she worked there were never any leftovers. She hosted many home product parties and they were all well attended and the saleswomen always made money. 

After retiring in 1988, she moved to the neighborhood of Col. Loma Bonita in Leon, GTO where she bought a house that she filled with her beloved house plants. The house became a place where anyone of her family and friends could come and stay and eat when they visited. While there she often would be asked to be an interpreter and tour guide for English speaking visitors who needed information.  She would have her regulars who would board with her.  She was loved by all her neighbors and family living in Mexico.   In June of 2001 she organized her own 75^th birthday party in Leon where her children and spouses and grandchildren came to celebrate with the Anguiano side of the family.  It was a great party!   After the death of son Joseph she returned to East Moline in 2012. 

Luz had a wonderful gift and appreciation for all kinds of music.   During her lifetime she loved everything from Mariachi to Mozart.  Big Bands to The Beatles. Country-Western to Rhythm and Blues.  Dancing corridos to cumbias.  From waltzes to disco.  She loved seeing theater and all performing arts.  There was always a song on her lips or in her heart.  She loved all the family dogs and was heart-broken when they died.

She had a huge heart as raising her children in the ‘50s, ‘60s, ‘70s and ‘80s wasn’t always easy on her.  She maintained her love and forgiveness for her children and grandchildren no matter how difficult their actions put on her. She leaned on her faith when her father died at age 12. When her 2 ½ year old son was killed by a train right in front of her and when her oldest two sons and spouses passed before her. She leaned on her faith whenever she was in need in her darkest hours.  That faith always served and comforted her. She also expressed her faith to others by being asked and becoming Godmother to many, from infants through adults in her community. She took loving care for her husband before his passing in January 1978, while still raising teenagers at home and babysitting grand-children.  Through it all there are the very happy memories of Holidays, weddings and picnics with family all because of her.  And she was still teaching her family even as she was in her last days.       

Survivors include her children, Maria Estela (Jess) Villarreal Rock Island IL, Luis A Sierra Iowa City IA, Henry S (Melissa) Sierra, Maria Rosario Sierra, George W (Dolores) Sierra East Moline IL, Barbara A Sierra Louisville MS, and Rev. Alejandro (Michele) Sierra Davenport, IA;   

Grandchildren;

Stephanie, Michelle, Gilbert, Emilia, Heather, Angelina, Rebecca, Marina, Chuy, Coady, Alexandra, Cari Lee, Eddie, Bianca, Liam, Kaylan, Lex, Zoe, Abigal, Nicholas, Cayte, Nicholas, Brandon, Brianna, Anna & Elena 

Great Grandchildren;

Megan, Liz, Sarah, Cassie, Colin, Megan, Dylan, GG, Kiowa, Landon, Sierra, Rosi, Michael, Alicia, Aexis, Mason, Gabriel, Daniel, Hunter, Grace, Kayla, Eddie Jr, Brandon, Manny, Edison, Jerimiah, Isabel, Elicianna, DJ, Cammoran, Freyda, Bella, Noah, Addison, Tyler, Emmett, Vance, Amaziah, N Tyler, N Caleb, Saleh

Great Great Grandchildren;

Kloie, Kayson, Leon, Luca, Vincent, James, Jacob, Sophia, Gracie, Oliver, Marlie

She was preceded in death by her parents Maria and Jose; husband Emanuel; sons Eduardo Sierra, Joseph (NaDeen) Sierra, and Gilbert (Susan) Sierra; grandchildren Dawn Marie, and Joseph Jr; great-grandchildren Alex Conant and Chynna; sisters Maria Luisa, Concepcion, Natividad, Maria de los Angeles and brother Jesus.

Memories may be shared online by visiting esterdahl.com.