Belen (Zuniga) Calderon, 82, of the Albert Lea area passed away Thursday, Jan. 11, 2018, at her residence in Brownsville, Texas. She was born Aug. 15, 1935, in Valle Hermoso, Tamualipas, Mexico, the daughter of Aurelio and Aurora (Perez) Zuniga.

Belen came to the United States while in her 20s.  She settled in Minnesota, where she worked for Hollandale Marketing Association for many years. It meant a lot to Belen that she received her United States citizenship. While living in Hollandale, she owned and operated Tampico Bar for two years. After her retirement, Belen moved to Brownsville, Texas, to escape the Minnesota winters and be closer to children who lived there. She enjoyed gardening, cooking, dancing and watching Mexican soap operas on television. Belen especially loved to spend time with her family and friends.

Survivors include her children Victor (Naomi) Garcia of Brownsville, Mario (Sylvia) Garcia of Brownsville, Melisanda (Rigo) Alvarado of Charlotte, North Carolina, Irma (Bernardo) Pinales of San Benito, Texas, Pablo (Lourdes) Garcia of Brownsville, Aurora (Francisco) Villalobos of Mexico, Adelina (Jesse) Tovar, Diana Perez of Albert Lea, John (Heidi) Sanchez of Hayfield, Delfino (Amy) Sanchez of Albert Lea and Bridget (Danny) Maulding of Parlier, California; 45 grandchildren; many great-grandchildren; she lived long enough to see the birth of her great-great-grandchildren; brothers and sisters Agapito (Celia) Zuniga of Mexico, Carmela Zuniga of Mexico, Elida (Guadalupe) Reyes of Albert Lea, Olga (Reymundo) Meneses of Mexico and Maria Wilborn of Albert Lea; sister-in-law, Lydia Zuniga, of Hollandale; and many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. 

She was preceded in death by her parents Aurelio and Aurora; and her brother, Pedro.

Memorial services will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at First Lutheran Church in Blooming Prairie. The Rev. Heidi Heimgartner will officiate. Interment will follow the service in Blooming Prairie Cemetery. Visitation will be for one hour prior to the service at the church Saturday.  Worlein-Blooming Prairie Funeral Home is assisting the family with the arrangements. Condolences may be expressed to the family online at www.worlein.com.