Maria Elena Zuniga

Maria Elena Zuniga was born to her mother and father in Ciudad Guzman in Jalisco, Mexico. Her mother passed at her birth and her father, Daniel Zuniga, a few short years after. She was raised by her uncle and his servants surrounded by the many animals that she cherished.

Maria Elena had a natural talent for music. She was an accomplished violinist and in her younger years held the first chair position in the Jalisco Philharmonic Orchestra in Guadalajara, Jalisco.

When she was a teenage girl, she began spending time in Tucson, Arizona with the Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary and studying English with them. This eventually led her to being introduced to the Claretian Fathers in Phoenix as the sisters would bring her to help the aging Priests. After several years she left Mexico and moved permanently to Phoenix Arizona to act as a cook and caretaker for the Priests at Mt. Claret. When the Claretians sold Mount Claret to the Diocese of Phoenix in 1988, Maria Elena stayed on as caretaker and Sacristan until her move to assisted living in 2023.

She became a naturalized citizen of the United States on July 4, 1985.

Maria Elena loved animals, especially her two white shepherds. She cared for all the creatures at Mt Claret and would often be found speaking to the birds and the rabbits as they would come right up to her patio.

Maria Elena received the Apostolic Blessing from St. Pope John Paul II on September 19, 1979.

Maria Elena loved and served the Lord for her entire life. Each day she would enter the chapel with a joyful voice announcing, “Hello Jesus, it is Maria Elena!”

She will be missed.

A visitation will be held on Friday, December 5th from 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. with a recitation of the rosary at 6:00 p.m. at Whitney & Murphy Funeral Home, 4800 East Indian School Road, Phoenix, Arizona 85018. Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, December 6th at St. Theresa Catholic Church, 5045 East Thomas Road, Phoenix, Arizona 85018. Burial to follow at St. Francis Catholic Cemetery.