Milagros Avila

Milagros Avila was born in Socuellamos, Spain, to Filomena Arenas and Joaquin Perez. She grew up in Madrid during the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939). She married Luis Carlos Avila of La Chorrera, Panama in Madrid in 1952. They moved to New York City, where Milagros lived the rest of her life, working as a secretary in the banking and insurance industries, and raising her 2 daughters, Helen and Pamela.

After divorcing in 1977, Milagros continued to live independently in her home in Flushing, NY. Due to the hardships of war while she was growing up, she had been unable to graduate from high school, but she was a very intelligent and self-educated woman. It was her goal to see that her daughters and grandchildren were educated, and she continued to encourage and support their education throughout her life.

Upon retiring, she spent time reading, listening to music, playing the piano, and gardening. In 1992, she bought a home in Cannon Beach, Oregon, and she continued to visit and maintain this property until her 90th birthday. She remained self-reliant her entire life. When her health failed in the spring of 2019, she decided to move to Portland to be closer to family, where she hoped to be able to spend her last months. Sadly, she passed away within a week of arriving in Oregon.

She is survived by daughters Helen Torino and Pamela Avila, niece Linda Santos, niece Filomena Frost, grandchildren Sean Torino, Aaron Torino, Forrest Avila-Crump, Savanna Avila-Crump, and great-grandson, Ozzie Torino. Her remains will be buried at Lone Fir Pioneer Cemetery near her beloved grandson Miles Avila-Crump, who predeceased her.

Arrangements by Crown Memorial Funeral Home.