Maria Auxiliadora Moreno

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Her life was one of devotion to family, faith, and the simple joys that brought warmth to those around her.

Maria Auxiliadora Moreno, lovingly known as Usi and Nani, passed away on October 4, 2026, in Tucson, Arizona, just days after her 92nd birthday. She was born on September 29, 1934, in Granados, Sonora, Mexico, and was raised there and in Nacozari, Sonora. Her life was one of devotion to family, faith, and the simple joys that brought warmth to those around her.

On April 26, 1959, she married Rene E. Moreno in Agua Prieta, Sonora. Together they built a family that became the center of her life. After living in San Manuel, Arizona for five years, she made her home in Tucson, where she continued to pour her love and energy into her family and community.

Maria was loving and generous, and her humor brightened the lives of those who knew her. She was remembered as an exceptional mother, a loving grandmother, and a great-grandmother whose care reached across generations. She was also known as a great cook, and cooking was one of the ways she expressed her love most naturally. She loved to cook, crochet, do puzzles, and paint, filling her days with creativity, patience, and care. She was affiliated with the League of Mexican American Women Las Guadalupanas, a connection that reflected her early ties to community and tradition.

For 23 years, Maria worked as a chef for the nuns at Saints Peter & Paul Sisters Convent. Through that work, she shared her gifts with dedication and generosity, nourishing others in a role that suited her caring spirit so well.

She leaves behind a loving family who will carry her memory forward with gratitude and affection: her daughters, Marisela Montaño (Daniel) Margarita Castellanos, Elizabeth Ladriere (Jaime), and Gloria Rodriguez (Ruben) and her sons, Rene Moreno (Yanina), Raul Moreno (Cynthia), and Rogelio Moreno (Cindy). In their lives, and in the lives of the generations that followed, including 21 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren (with 3 on the way), her love remains a lasting presence. She will be remembered in family kitchens, in laughter shared around the table, and in the quiet, steady acts of care that defined her life.

Maria was preceded in death by her husband, Rene Moreno; her son, Sergio Moreno; her father, Cayetano Barceló; her mother, Maria Jesus Teran Barceló; her brothers, Carlos Barceló and Isidro Barceló; her sister, Francisca “Paquita” Barceló; her grandson, Daniel Montaño Jr and son-in-law, Jorge Castellanos. Their memories remained part of her heart throughout her life, and now she rests with those who went before her.

Services to honor Maria’s life will be held at St. Joseph Catholic Parish, 215 South Craycroft Road, Tucson, AZ 85711. Visitation will take place on October 15, 2026, from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., with the Rosary at 5:00 p.m. A Mass will be celebrated on October 16, 2026, at 10:00 a.m.  A graveside service will follow at 12:00 p.m. at Holy Hope Cemetery & Masoleum, 3555 North Oracle Road, Tucson, AZ 85705.

Maria Auxiliadora Moreno will be deeply missed and lovingly remembered. Her legacy lives on in the family she cherished, in the meals and memories she created, and in the love she gave so freely throughout her long and beautiful life.