Senorina "Nena" Pilar Pena

Born on October 12, 1944, in Presidio, Texas, to Dionisio M. Cordero and Maria del Pilar Canava Cordero, she was one of the eldest of thirteen siblings. She grew up in Redford, Texas.

Pilar married Ezequiel G. Peña, and together they had four children: Graciela Reyes (Martin), Romaldo Peña (Jennifer), Delia Clark (James), and Roberto Peña (Stephanie). Later, they welcomed eight grandchildren: Savanah, Roman, Isaac, Alicia, Abigail, Ronin, Elias, and Erikah. She was also blessed with six wonderful  great-grandchildren: Josiah, Grace, Oliver, Leilani, Cameron, and Luna.

Pilar, affectionately known as Nena, spent her early years in Big Bend National Park before settling in Monahans. There, she worked and eventually retired from the Monahans Independent School District.

She was a woman of many talents: a wonderful mother, a skilled cook, an exceptional organizer, and a pioneer of DIY before it became a popular trend. In addition to her diverse skills, she held a cosmetology license. In her younger years, she was an avid reader, often found engrossed in books in the bathroom late at night, when she could finally have some personal time. She also kept a journal and once expressed her desire to become a writer. While she never considered herself intelligent or talented, she possessed remarkable abilities. Her ability to transform limited resources into a work of art defined her. At her core, she was a teacher, ensuring that we received summer school “Nena style” even after we had moved on to the next grade. As her children, we were confident that the military could have benefited from her expertise in scheduling, organizing, and training.

She was a woman of deep conviction, and she made sure her children understood the true significance of various situations. She stood firm by her convictions even when it meant facing challenges. She instilled in her children the values of faith and love for family, reminding us that all individuals are God’s children and deserve respect.

As an example most Thanksgiving holidays they would make it an open door to anyone who wouldn’t otherwise have dinner. It wasn’t uncommon to have unknown guests at our table. This was a reminder to us of our parents desire to give to anyone who had need. We will try to live out this example in honor of our mothers giving heart.