Louise L. Branch, 90, went to our Lord on Friday, Dec. 16, 2016, ironically while on the way to an appointment with her cardiologist. Services will be held on Thursday, Dec. 22, at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Winslow. Rosary will be at 9:30 a.m. and Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. Graveside services will immediately follow.
She was born Oct. 11, 1926, in Winslow to Juan Ramon Lujan of Mora, N.M., and Lucita De La Luna Gomez of Augas Calientes, Mexico. She was a lifelong Catholic and a member of St. Joseph’s Parish. She was the youngest of the children, including her sister Maria (Lee Padilla), the oldest, and her brother Ramon Lujan (Lucy).
Louise worked for 20-plus years for Winslow Memorial Hospital as a nurse’s aid and loved every minute of it as she was a caring person, always thinking of others before herself.
She would not prejudge people and if someone would do visually wrong, she would always say, “Pray for them.” She would practice what she would say, as her prayer life was constant and strong. She would always pray for others, heal them with Christian kindness and her forgiveness was deep. She would tell her children that example was more effective than words, but, be patient, things will come in God’s time.
She married Solomon M. “Sam” Branch, a World War II veteran, in November 1946. They had four children, all raised in Winslow.
She was a former member of the Legion of Mary and the Rosary Altar Society. She enjoyed reading Maryknoll magazine
about the Catholic missions around the world. She had a special place in her heart for the Madonna House girls and the Apostolate.
Louise could recite the genealogy of many of the old time families of Winslow and enjoyed visiting others, especially helping and caring for them. She was a true daughter of Winslow, as her father Juan Ramon came through here in 1878 on the historic sheep drives of New Mexico to California. He later homesteaded and ranched south of town in 1884, putting in the first sheep ranch two years before the famed Hashknife arrived.
Louise was a 20-year cancer survivor and always had special prayers for those stricken with the disease and for the families.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her siblings and her husband.
Survivors include her children, Marvin Branch (Alice) of Tracy City, Tenn., Terri Vargas (Jerry) of Santa Ana, Calif., Lucille Branch Cruz (Dino) of Anaheim, Calif., and Raymond of Winslow; her niece Annie Valadez and nephew David “Andy” Padilla, both of Colton, Calif.; three grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers or donations, Louise would be pleased instead if you give to a favorite charity or a cancer charity, give someone a helping hand or a kind word, or, if Catholic, have a Mass said for someone in need, and would like all to keep in mind the true meaning of Christmas.
Greer’s Mortuary of Winslow was in charge of the arrangements.
