Cecilia "Shela" Medrano Lara, 82, of Presidio St., Carlsbad, NM, passed away on Friday, December 9, 2016 at Lovelace Medical Center, Albuquerque, NM. Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. on Friday, December 16, 2016 at San Jose Catholic Church. Father Martin Cordero will be the celebrant. Interment will follow at Carlsbad Cemetery (new section). Vigil will be held at 7 p.m. on Thursday at San Jose Catholic Church. Visitation will be 1-5 p.m. on Thursday at West Funeral Home. Services have been entrusted to West Funeral Home. Condolences may be expressed at westfuneralhomellc.com Cecilia "Shela" Medrano Lara was born on February 1, 1934 to the late Rafael C. and Trinidad (Estrada) Medrano in Malaga, NM she was raised and educated in Otis, NM. Cecilia married the late Roberto A. Lara on May 27th, 1950 in Carlsbad, NM. They owned and operated the New San Jose Grocery store for seven years. Cecilia worked with the Carlsbad Municipal School Cafeterias and retired after working with Furr's Supermarket in the Deli in 1985. She continued working in the family home by raising her grandchildren, which were her pride and joy. Cecilia "Shela" was loved by all who knew her, she loved spending time with her family and friends. Her enjoyment was seeing and feeding her grandchildren. She was known for her cooking, baking sweet treats in her kitchen that never closed. She opened her heart and her home to all. She especially enjoyed making casino trips with friends and family, her hobbies were, crocheting, gardening and watching The Price Is Right along with her novela's. She was a lifetime member and volunteer of San Jose Catholic Church. She was the rock that built her family into what it is today. She touched each of our lives in her own special way. Her beauty and grace will never be forgotten. She is preceded in death by her parents and husband, son David M. Lara and grandson Martin Duarte. Cecilia is survived by her children: Tony Lara and wife Joann of Las Cruces, NM, Oscar Lara and wife Veronica, Nancy Lara, Terri Lara Martinez and husband Arnulfo and Brenda Lara-Alonzo and husband Cecilio, daughter in law Elsie Lara, brother Ralph Medrano and wife Cecilia, and sister Josie Lujan and husband Tony, all of Carlsbad; grandchildren: Tony Jr. Lara and wife Maria, Bobby Lara and wife Jennifer, Jeff, Greg, Stephanie, Nicholas and wife Leah, Chris, Lindsey, and Isabella Lara, Kim Squire and husband Scott, Kiki Torrez and husband Jesse, Trudie Smith and husband James, Jeanette Duarte, Jerry Zuniga, Brian and Audrianna Martinez, Briann Dorado, Andrew, Anthony and Allisa Alonzo and Billy Joe Mares; 25 great-grandchildren, 3 great-great grandchildren and numerous nephews and nieces.Pallbearers are Jerry Zuniga, Jeff, Nick and Chris Lara, Andrew and Anthony Alonzo.