“Our Heavenly Angel” Victoria was born on December 1st 1998 in Tucson, AZ, to parents Michael and Lorena Arias and had one older sister, Desiree Arias. She went to be with our Heavenly Father on July 12, 2017. During her 18 years of life, Victoria was a very compassionate, caring, loving, and hardworking young lady, who had earned a full ride scholarship to Saint Mary’s University in Winona Minnesota, she had dreams of becoming a surgeon in the trauma unit.
Victoria started her education at Elvira Elementary, where she discovered her love for education and sports. At this very tender young age Victoria felt the calling to become an alter server at St. Monica Parish, which she loved. She went on to attend Challenger M.S. Education remained one of her main priorities and her love for volleyball began. She had the honor and privilege to attend San Miguel H.S. Another great honor during her time at SMHS in 2016 with the El Otro Lado group was to travel to Ciudad Juarez, Mexico to visit the Pope. She graduated from SMHS in May of 2017 with honors and was involved in numerous groups and activities in and out of school. Some of those included volleyball, theater, yearbook, National Honor Society, El Otro Lado, SMHS Ambassadors, St. Johns Ignite Youth Group, and last but not least, Mariachi Los Changuitos Feos.
Victoria was a violinist for “Changos” for a little more than five years and was very passionate about the group and the music they produced. During her time with Los Changuitos Feos she was able to travel and perform throughout the state of Arizona and the Southwest. Some of her favorite songs to sing were “Malagueña”, “Nuncá Jamas”, and “Que Buena Suerte” which was the song she performed at the Tucson International Mariachi Conference 2017, her last major concert with her Chango family.
Victoria loved being a part of the mariachi family. She took pride in how she looked and acted every time she would put on her traje. Victoria loved mariachi so much, she based her college application essay on her “mariachi family”, an essay that helped earn her a $250,000 full ride scholarship.
Victoria was determined to become a surgeon and help save lives. Although she wasn’t able to go to school and actually become one, she was still able to save lives through her organ donation. She was able to donate her organs to four recipients, three in Arizona and one in California, thanks to God they now have the opportunity to live healthy lives because of Victoria’s gifts. Many people have told us that they are now donors because of Victoria.
Through the Victoria Teresa Arias Memorial Foundation, we, Victoria’s parents hope to keep her memory and legacy alive by helping others, and by empowering students to further their education with college scholarships. May God Bless any and all who read this, and may He continue to bless all of the lives Victoria has touched.
We Love You Baby Girl! #ChooseHappy
Sincerely,
Mike and Lorena Arias
