María Elvira Curiel Lomelí
María Elvira Curiel Lomelí, the mother of Chapala’s incumbent mayor, died May 24 while undergoing treatment for a medical emergency at a Guadalajara hospital.
After announcing his mother’s death on social media, Alejandro Aguirre Curiel temporarily suspended his participation in campaign activities related to his bid for reelection on June 2.
Born in Guadalajara on January 25, 1947, Doña Elvira settled in Chapala following her marriage to local entrepreneur Francisco Javier “Paco” Aguirre Castellanos, who ran an auto parts store next door to their home on Avenida Madero. He went on to found the Grúas y Servicios Aguirre (GYSA) towing and transport company in the 1960s. After dedicating the early years of their marriage to raising the couple’s seven offspring, Elvira oversaw the family businesses after her husband’s death in 1993.
She stepped into roles as Chapala’s First Lady and honorary president of the local DIF family development agency during Alejandro Aguirre’s first term as mayor from 2001 to 2003, since he was single at that time. DIF staff and beneficiaries remember her empathy and humility in her hands-on management of the agency.
A devout Roman Catholic, Elvira identified spiritually with María Auxiliadora. Coincidentally, she died on the day the church commemorates that avocation of the Virgin Mary, known as Helper of Christians.
Scores of mourners accompanied the Aguirre Curiel clan at an overnight wake held at their family home. Many others attended a memorial tribute at DIF headquarters on Saturday, May 25, preceding the 4 p.m. funeral Mass at the San Francisco parish.
Doña Elvira is survived by her adult children Francisco Javier, Lorena Elvira, Alejandro de Jesús, Claudia Guadalupe, Jorge Luis, Octavio Matías and Gerardo de la Trinidad, their spouses and her numerous grandchildren.
Commented Alejandro Aguirre: “She leaves a legacy of enormous love that will live on in the hearts of all of us who had the privilege of being close to her. I deeply appreciate your thoughts and prayers in this time of grief for our family.”