West Boutique Florist Owner Josefina Lizagarra looks to the Future

Josefina Lizagarra, 70, started her business at 1470 West St. Mary's Road 43 years ago when only three other businesses were located near the Barrio Hollywood neighborhood.

At the time there were few roads. The area was not really developed until Pima Community College West was built.

Lizagarra, originally from Nayarit, Mexico moved to Nogales, Mexico when she was 21 years old so that her mother could undergo cancer treatment.

My mother was sick and she came to Tucson to see the doctor," Lizagarra said.

Her mother passed away shortly after and she remained in Nogales where she lived with her older sister, Adelina.

She landed a job recruiting for the Mexican Army and she met a television repairmen who she eventually married.

They had four children who are now adults with families of their own, Lupita, 44, Manuel Jr., 38, Robert, 36, and Daniel, 35.

They married in Noglaes but soon moved to Tucson where they started their family. Lizagarra and her husband are no longer together, but were for 38 years.

Lizagarra started her West Boutique Florist business as a way to make money while raising her children. She was able to manage the shop while baking beans and washing diapers.

She struggled to put her children through private school and give them the best education she possibly could.

"I went from bad to worse," she said. "Actually it was not worse because I had a beautiful family. I was very much blessed. I got my rewards."

Her family has always been her first priority but now that they have grown up Lizagarra plans on spending her time helping the community and enriching Tucson with the mexican culture she is so proud of.

"The culture in Mexico is very beautiful," she said. Lizagarra is very thankful for the traditions she has inherited.

Lizagarra is currently trying to sell the flower shop so that she can dedicate her time helping with community events and making her beautiful paper flowers for movie productions and local venues.