LARNED — Adelaida Viegra Perez (Lile) (Abby), Larned, died Nov. 26 after a long and courageous battle with illness. Born in Garfield on Dec. 16, 1940, to Pasqual and Basilia Vieyra, Abby was a 1958 graduate of Garfield High School and lived all of her adult life in Larned.

Abby was a devoted mother to eight children and a kind and gentle grandmother to 16 grandchildren. Through the years, she’s been their No. 1 fan, supporting them in sports, in other activities and in life.

Abby enjoyed watching sports, particularly basketball, baseball and football. She was an avid University of Kansas fan, but mostly rooted for all Kansas teams.

Most of her working life, Abby held at least two jobs to provide for her family. She worked many jobs over a 50-year span. Most recently, she served for more than a dozen years as a cook for Hillside Elementary School. That was her favorite job because she enjoyed serving and interacting with the children at Hillside. She retired as a cook at Larned State Hospital, provided care as a certified nurse aide for several nursing homes, worked as a housekeeper, and was a longtime newspaper carrier for the Tiller and Toiler, Hutchinson News and Great Bend Tribune. Not only was Abby the consummate caregiver to people, she cared for animals, also, adopting many dogs and cats in need of a home. She had a lifelong affinity for cardinals, the result of having the bird as a mascot at Garfield High School. Abby took the time to enjoy the small and simple things in life, as well, whether it be smelling flowers in her yard, or sipping a hot cup of coffee, any time of the day.

She was a member of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Larned.

Survivors include her mother, Basilia Vieyra, Kinsley; four sons, Lupe Jr. and wife Shanda, Mike, Anthony, and Alex Perez, all of Larned; four daughters, Stephanie Perez, Patricia Brown and husband David, Larned, Dana Dawes and husband Mike, Great Bend, Tracy Martinez and husband Tony, Larned; five brothers, Alex Viegra and wife Sally, Frank Viegra and wife Alice, Hutchinson, Joe Viegra and wife Sandy, Larned, Benny Viegra and wife Ardis, La Crosse, and Ricardo Vieyra and wife Maryann, Junction City; three sisters, Sandy Castor and husband Joe, Schmaumberg, Ill., Julia Castaneda and husband Pete, Lewis, and Frances Earegood, Larned; 16 grandchildren, Rusty, Jason and Drew Brown; Braedon, Tiasha, Isiah, Baylea, Jordahn and Kindra Perez; Brandi, Anthony, Espy, Nydia and Andres Martinez; and Grant and Nate Dawes.

She was preceded in death by her father Pasqual Vieyra; sister Bernadine Rickman; and brothers, Luz Viegra and Robert Vieyra.

Funeral Mass will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Larned, with Father Bernard Felix presiding. Rosary will be at 7 p.m. today, at the Beckwith Mortuary. Friends may call from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. today at Beckwith Mortuary, Larned. Private family inurnment will be at a later date. Memorials may be sent to the Pawnee County Humane Society or Hillside Elementary School in care of the mortuary. Personal condolences may be left at www.beckwithmortuary.com.