Rufina Lumbreras Muñoz

Rufina Lumbreras Muñoz, age 91, of Hammond, formerly East Chicago, passed away Friday, June 13, 2025 surrounded by her family.  Rufina is survived by her only daughter, Eva A. (Jose) Bustos; grandchildren: Eva Maria Autry, Monica (Milton) O’Neal, Olivia B. (Fernando) Rodriguez, Daniel (Lorena) Bustos, and Roxanne (Jorge Luis) Valdez; great grandchildren: Randy Lee (girlfriend, Gemma Santos) Autry, Aidan Thomas Autry, Fernando Ambrose Rodriguez, Mateo Tiago Rodriguez, Tomás Agustin Rodriguez, Damian A. Silva, Jasmine K. Silva, Layla Alessandra Valdez, Jorge Salvador Valdez, and Lola Alejandra Valdez; great great grandchild, Elianna Sophia Autry; siblings: Jose Samuel Lumbreras Muñoz, Catalina Lumbreras Muñoz, and Alicia Lumbreras Muñoz; and many nieces and nephews in Mexico.  Preceded in death by her parents: Samuel Lumbreras Cuatepotzo and Toribia Muñoz; and siblings:  Consuelo Lumbreras Muñoz and Sergio Lumbreras Muñoz.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Wednesday, June 18, 2025, 10:30 am at St. Mary Church, Indianapolis Blvd. at 144th Street, East Chicago, Indiana, with Rev. Julio C. Bedoya officiating.  Private cremation to follow with inurnment at Santuario de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe y la Santisima Hostia Sangrante, Mexico City, Mexico.  Visitation will be prior to the Mass on Wednesday, June 18, 2025 from 8:00 to 10:00 am at FIFE FUNERAL HOME, 4201 Indianapolis Blvd., East Chicago, Indiana.

Rufina Lumbreras Muñoz was born in Tepeyanco, Tlaxcala, Mexico.  She came into the world in the warmth of her parent’s home – a beginning that would reflect the life she lived: rooted in love, faith, tradition, and family.

Rufina later made her way to Mexico City, where she worked as a talented seamstress, creating beautiful garments with skillful hands and a keen eye for detail. Her artistry with fabric became part of her legacy, lovingly passed down to her daughter Eva, who carries on her craft.

In her later years, Rufina divided her time between the bustle of Mexico City—surrounded by her beloved sisters and extended family—and the quiet seasons of Indiana, where she braved the winter and experienced snow…for one winter season.

To all who knew her, she was “Mami Rufi.” The kitchen was her domain, and her floral checkered apron was her unofficial uniform. Over a simmering pot of sopa de fideo or keeping watch on a batch of milanesas, she welcomed all into her home and heart. Through her traditional Mexican cooking, she didn’t just nourish the body—she shared her heritage, her laughter, and her remarkable storytelling.

Mami Rufi’s stories, told with a twinkle in her eye and the aroma of chile in the air, were as unforgettable as the meals she served. She was a mother to many, not just in name but in spirit—loving, generous, and endlessly warm.

As in life, so in death, she passed peacefully surrounded by her loving daughter at her bedside as well as her grandchildren, great grandchildren, and great great granddaughter.  Though her presence will be missed, the love she poured into every stitch, every dish, and every word lives on in the people who were lucky enough to sit at her table.  To send an online condolence, logon to www.fifefuneralhome.com

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