Services are scheduled for Eloisa "Lou" Urquidez Balencia at 10 a.m. Monday, July 27, at Trinity Temple Assembly of God in Artesia, NM with burial to follow at Woodbine Cemetery. Officiating will be Bobby Argo. She passed away on July 20, 2026, in Carlsbad, New Mexico.

Visitation is scheduled on Sunday, July 26 from 4 to 6 pm at Terpening & Son Chapel.

Born on December 25, 1946, to Gilberto and Ramona Urquidez in Carlsbad, New Mexico, she lived a life filled with love and devotion to her family. She attended schools in Loving and Carlsbad, where she graduated in 1964. Her desire to become an airline stewardess led her to attend the Airline Career Training Atlantic School in Missouri where she graduated in 1967. However, she did not pursue that career and instead returned to Carlsbad and in the following years subsequently worked at a department store in El Paso, Texas and then a flower shop in Carlsbad.

She met and married the love of her life, Johnny Balencia, on January 18, 1969, and moved to Artesia where she worked during various periods for R&B Blossom Shop and as a telephone operator for Bell Telephone Company before fulfilling the passion in her life - sewing.

Eloisa learned to sew at an early age and made most of her own clothes and when she became employed at Shirley's Bridal Shop in Artesia, her artistry and skill as a seamstress flourished. She then went into business for herself, developing a clientele that came from surrounding communities for her expertise in designing and fashioning formal wear.

She is preceded in death by her husband, parents and brother, Ernesto G. Urquidez.

Survivors include her daughters, Lori Flores and Rosie Sprouse and spouse Scott; her son, Jaime Balencia and spouse, Amanda; her grandchildren Jacob Flores, Jonathan Flores, Briana Sprouse, Olivia Sprouse, Preva Balencia, Celiah Balencia, Alyssa Balencia and Ashley Balencia. Her great-grandsons are Christopher Flores and Apollo Flores. Her siblings include her brother Gilbert Urquidez, Jr. and sisters Eugenia (Jenny) Fierro and Dina Howell.

A devoted Christian, she was rooted in her faith which provided her with comfort and peace throughout her life.