Juana Elvia Cifuentes was born in Quetzaltenango, Guatemala, to her mother, Rosenda Cifuentes. As the eldest daughter, Juana had little opportunity for formal education. At the age of twelve, she left the safety of her grandparents’ rural home to work alongside her mother.

As a teenager, she continued doing domestic work, first with her mother and later on her own. In her late teens, she moved to Guatemala City, where she met José Jaime, her life partner of seventy-two years. Together, they built a family of ten children; four sons and six daughters.

A natural caregiver, Juana devoted her life to her family as a homemaker, always placing their needs above her own. When José moved to Canada in 1980, Juana became both mother and father to their children. Though her family was divided between two countries, she never stopped thinking of those abroad while continuing to care for her younger children and a granddaughter in Guatemala, until she herself moved to Canada in 1989.

Many would describe Juana as “serious,” but her love for her family was unwavering. Because she had been unable to attend school, she strongly encouraged her children and grandchildren to pursue an education. Like her partner José, Juana had a strong work ethic rooted in community, mutual support, and respect. Together, they passed these values on to their family. She took pride in every accomplishment, no matter how big or small. Quiet and steady, she expressed her love through action rather than words.

In her later years, she slowed down, but never failed to remind her loved ones to “take care and be safe”... that is how she told us “I love you.”

Juana is survived by eight of her children, as well as her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
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Juana Elvia Cifuentes nació en Quetzaltenango, Guatemala, de madre Rosenda Cifuentes.

En su adolescencia, continuó realizando labores domésticas, primero con su madre y luego sola. Al final de su adolescencia, se mudó a Ciudad de Guatemala, donde conoció a José Jaime, su compañero de vida durante setenta y dos años. Juntos, formaron una familia de diez hijos: cuatro varones y seis mujeres.

Juana, una cuidadora nata, dedicó su vida a su familia como ama de casa, priorizando siempre sus necesidades por encima de las suyas. Cuando José se mudó a Canadá en 1980, Juana se convirtió en madre y padre de sus hijos. Aunque su familia estaba dividida entre dos países, nunca dejó de pensar en los que estaban en el extranjero mientras seguía cuidando de sus hijos menores y de una nieta en Guatemala, hasta que ella misma se mudó a Canadá en 1989.

Muchos describirían a Juana como una persona seria, pero su amor por su familia era inquebrantable. Debido a que no había podido asistir a la escuela, animó firmemente a sus hijos y nietos a estudiar. Al igual que su pareja José, Juana tenía una sólida ética de trabajo basada en el apoyo mutuo, la comunidad y el respeto. Juntos, transmitieron estos valores a su familia. Ella siempre estuvo orgullosa de cada logro, sin importar lo grande o pequeño que fuera. Con serenidad y constancia, expresaba su amor con acciones, no palabras.

En sus últimos años, bajó el ritmo, pero nunca dejó de recordarles a sus seres queridos que fueran “con cuidado” ó "cuidense mucho”... así nos decía "Los quiero mucho".

A Juana le sobreviven ocho hijos, además de sus nietos y bisnietos.