In Loving Memory of Diana R. Hernandez

October 27, 1956 – July 29, 2026

With hearts that are shattered beyond words, we announce the passing of our beloved Diana R. Hernandez, who entered the presence of her Lord and Savior on July 29, 2026, in Albuquerque, New Mexico, at the age of 69, surrounded by her loving family and those who cherished her. Diana was born on October 27, 1956, in Peralta, New Mexico.

Before she was anything else, Diana was a faithful servant of God. Her relationship with Him was the foundation of her life and the source of the love she poured into everyone around her. She had the beautiful gift of speaking in tongues, and when she prayed over those she loved, there was no denying the presence of God in the room. Her prayers carried strength, peace, and hope, and countless lives were comforted simply by hearing her call on His name. Her faith never wavered, and today we find comfort in knowing she is finally home in the loving arms of the Savior she trusted so deeply.

Diana’s greatest calling, however, was her family.

She was a devoted wife, an incredible mother, a proud grandmother, and an overjoyed great-grandmother. She loved with her whole heart and without conditions. Every decision she made, every sacrifice she endured, and every prayer she whispered was for the people she loved. She never cared about material things or recognition. Her greatest happiness came from seeing her family smiling, laughing, gathered together, and knowing they were okay.

To know Diana was to know unconditional love.

She was the first to open her home, the first to offer a hot meal, the first to make you laugh when you needed it most, and the first to remind you that everything would be okay. She had an unforgettable sense of humor that could make anyone laugh until their stomach hurt. Even during difficult times, she somehow found a way to fill the room with joy. Her laugh was contagious, her smile was comforting, and her love was something you could feel the moment you walked through her door.

She loved rock music, loved discovering new places to eat, and was a true foodie. But if there was one place she was happiest, it was in her kitchen. Cooking wasn’t simply something she enjoyed; it was how she loved people. Every meal she prepared was made with care, every holiday feast was created with excitement, and every Thanksgiving became a treasured family tradition because of her. To sit at Diana’s table was to feel loved. Her recipes fed our stomachs, but her love fed our souls.

Diana is survived by her loving husband, Richard Pargas; her children, Lynette Holguin and her husband Anthony Holguin, Amber Candelaria and her partner Tino Martinez, and Ricki Pargas and her partner Jonathan Griego.

She leaves behind her cherished grandchildren: Victor Loy, Gabriel Loy, Marissa Gutierrez and her partner Ernest Granado, Ramona Georgeanne and her husband Jerry Georgeanne, Angel Candelaria, Hazel Sanchez, and Emilio Griego.

She was also blessed with the joy of watching her family grow through her precious great-grandchildren: Emily Loy, Alexis Loy, Janea Herrera, Cameron Granado, Derrick Granado, Ernest Granado Jr., and Kaiden Georgeanne.

She is also survived by her sister, Bernadette Hernandez, Bernadette’s children, along with extended family members, lifelong friends, and all who were fortunate enough to know and love her.

Diana was preceded in death by her father, Peter Hernandez; her mother, Connie Aragon; her brother, Peter Hernandez Jr.; her grandparents Lydia and Benny Tapia; her beloved Aunt Dolly Trujillo; and her uncle, Benny Ray Tapia.

There are no words that can truly express the emptiness left behind by Diana’s passing. There will be an empty seat at family dinners, a quiet kitchen where laughter once echoed, and holidays that will never feel quite the same. We will miss hearing her laugh, listening to her stories, watching her dance around the kitchen while she cooked, and seeing her face light up whenever her family walked through the door.

Though our hearts ache beyond measure, we know that love this powerful does not end when life does. Diana lives on in every family recipe that is made with love, every prayer spoken over a child, every laugh shared around the dinner table, every act of kindness done without expecting anything in return, and every family gathering where her memory will forever have a place.

She taught us that love is shown through sacrifice, faith is lived every day, and family is life’s greatest blessing.

Until we meet again, we will carry your love in our hearts, your lessons in our lives, and your memory in everything we do.

“Well done, good and faithful servant.”
Matthew 25:23

Forever loved. Forever missed. Forever our greatest blessing.

Celebration of Life will be announced by the family at a later date!