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SOCHA -- La Velma "Sis" Socha, 92, passed away Friday, November 27, 2009 in Albuquerque. She was born, La Velma Walk, on December 7th, 1916 in Presto, Pennsylvania. She met Stanley Socha in Carnegie PA and the couple married October 29th,1950. They moved to Albuquerque in 1951 with their young son Chester and Sis's mother Blanche Walk, where they opened a restaurant in downtown Albuquerque called the Walk-Inn. Sis was a trained cosmetologist, receiving awards for her work and established the cosmetic department at Montgomery Ward in the new Winrock Shopping Center and later went on to manage and buy for the cosmetic and accessory department at Campbell Drug Store in Hoffman Town Shopping Center for over 17 years. She attended the Dallas Fashion Mart to purchase merchandise for the store and remained a lovely and fashionable woman all her life. Sis and Stan approached their lives together with a sense of fun and adventure, always willing to try new things. They raised their family here in Albuquerque and both later worked for Bill Bell Photography and went on to own and run the Baskin Robbins Ice Cream Store in Gallup, NM. They spent their early retirement beginning in 1976, traveling to Europe, the Caribbean and around the United States. In 1992 they moved into the little house next door to their son Gary and helped to raise their grandaughter Maria. They took great pride in their gardening abilities and were active with the Los Ranchos Growers Market where they were famous for their beautiful tomatoes and French Fillet green beans. Sis is survived by her husband of 59 years, Stanley Socha; three sons, Chester Mauchline and wife Carol of O'Fallon, IL, Wayne Socha and wife Sharon of Monrovia, Ca, and Gary Socha and wife, Linda of Albuquerque; as well as five grandchildren, Britton Picciolini and Mike Mauchline, Jay and Mallory Socha, and Maria Socha; five nieces, Nancy, Delores, Shirley, Betty Jean and Rosemary. She was preceded in death by her parents and brother Howard. She was a wonderful wife, devoted mother and grandmother, and remained 92 years young, taking an active interest in her family, sports, gardening, cooking and current events until her recent devastating illness. She was a long time member of Cross of Hope Lutheran Church and enjoyed "Lunch Bunch" with her church friends every month. A celebration of her life will be held on what would have been her 93rd birthday, Monday December 7th at 2:00 pm at Cross of Hope Church, 6104 Taylor Ranch Rd. NW with Pastor Dale Bauer officiating. Reception to follow. Sis loved flowers, but in lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the elementary school at Cross of Hope Church. We would like to express our appreciation to the caring staff of Presbyterian Hospice, Las Palomas and LaDera Nursing Facilities. Cremation has taken place.
        Published on: Sun November 29, 2009