Yolanda Padilla Grimes

Yolanda Padilla Grimes, 65, of Amarillo passed peacefully and awakened in the Kingdom of Heaven on May 27, 2023.

The family will receive guests on Wednesday, May 31, 2023 at St. Thomas the Apostle Church, 4100 S. Coulter, from 5pm to 6pm; Prayer Vigil will begin at 6pm. Mass of Christian Burial will take place at the church on Thursday, June 1, 2023 at 10am with Rev. John Valdez presiding. Interment will follow in Llano Cemetery East, Garden of Gethsemane.

Yolanda was born June 21, 1957 to Benito and Aggie (Sosa) Padilla in Big Spring, Texas. She moved to Amarillo in 1974 and graduated from West Texas State University, now West Texas A&M, with a degree in education. She was the first in her family to graduate from college. For many years Yolanda served Amarillo ISD as a Special Education teacher. She also taught at the William P. Clements Unit in Amarillo for several years. She then worked as a customer service representative at AT&T for 23 years. Yolanda’s loyalty and commitment allowed her to complete 20 years with the company. After reaching this remarkable milestone, she continued to work for AT&T for an additional three years, up to the time of her passing. Additionally, her hard work and determination allowed Yolanda to complete several 5K races.

From a very early age, Yolanda was devoted to her family. Her priorities were her daughter Danielle and her grandsons Garrett, Graham and Sam. She loved to travel and enjoyed going on vacations with her family; her favorites included a trip to Disneyland with her daughter and grandsons and a cruise with her mother, sister and aunt. Yolanda enjoyed Zumba, going to movies and out to eat, playing Bunco, and socializing with friends. A great life lesson Yolanda often shared was, “Always remember, out of bad comes good!”

Yolanda was a member of the Red Hat Club and a close-knit Bunco group. She was devoted to the Lord and was an active member of St. Thomas the Apostle Church of Amarillo, singing in the choir and participating in the Young in Spirit Group at the Church.

Yolanda is preceded in death by her mother Aggie Padilla. Those left to cherish her memories are her beloved daughter Danielle Saied, grandsons Garrett, Graham and Sam Saied, father Benito Padilla, sister Anne Redondo and husband David, niece Rachel Redondo, nephew Eric Redondo, brother Ben Padilla, aunts Nancy Coker, Bea Kirkeeng and Genny Loose, dear friends Helen Sage, Mary Jo Netz, Peggy Eitzen,  Laurie Pace and Velma Perez, plus numerous additional loving family and dear friends.