ORLANDO GARCIA SR., 77, died September 16, 2005 in Denver after a short illness.
He was born in Velarde on Sept. 7, 1928 to Frank "Mole" and Anita Garcia. He was a loving son, brother, husband, grandfather, great-grandfather, uncle, nephew, cousin and friend. Orlando and his wife of 45 years, Dolores Martinez, raised three children in Tierra Amarilla. Orlando was preceded in death by Dolores, his parents, an older sister, a niece, nephew, brothers and sisters-in-law.
He worked on highways throughout New Mexico for 52 years. His last job was chief surveyor of the newly opened bridge in Charleston, S.C. in 2002.
He will be remembered for his truthfulness, spirituality, love of life, storytelling, smile and willingness to help anyone in need. He would like to leave the following words as his last ones, "I did it my way" and "God bless the broken rock."
He is survived by wife of five years, Carmen J. Rivera-Garcia of Taos and Velarde; children, Orlando Jr. (Lisa), Carlos Garcia and Maria Elena "Nena" Garcia, all of Albuquerque; many grandchildren; brothers, Isaac Garcia (Shirley) of Estaca, Tito Garcia and (Angie) of Tierra Amarilla; sisters, Grace Valdez of Farmington, Lucy Smith (Jerry) of Pennsylvania and Virginia Hernandez (Mario) of San Salvador, and many other relatives and friends.
Public visitation will begin at 3:30 p.m. today, with a rosary to be recited by the Knights of Columbus at 4 p.m. in the Sangre de Cristo Chapel of DeVargas Funeral Home. A second rosary will be recited on Friday by Los Hermanos of Valdez, Canjilon and Tierra Amarilla at 7:00 p.m. at the Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church in Velarde. Mass of Christian Burial to be celebrated at 10 a.m. Saturday at the same church, with burial to follow at 5:00 p.m. at the Fairview Cemetery in Santa Fe.
DeVargas Funeral Home of the Espaņola Valley, (505) 747-7477.
Dated: September 22, 2005
BENJAMIN NEVAREZ, JR., 78, passed away in Monday. He was preceded in death by his parents Benjamin and Cecilia Nevarez.
He is survived by his wife, Rose, of Santa Fe, daughters Cecilia Nevarez and partner, Gabriel Ortiz; Leonore Nevarez and partner, Ben Ortiz; Carol Nevarez and partner, Chris Padilla; and Emilia Nevarez, and Vicki Nevarez; sons Xavier Nevarez and partner, Sonia; Jimmy Nevarez and partner, Marie Gutierrez; Zeke Nevarez and partner, Melarie Gonzales; Uriel Nevarez and Jennifer Romero, Job Nevarez, and Dale Nevarez; 20 grandchildren and 2 great grandchildren.
Benjamin served in World War II and was a member of the VFW. He was a mechanic and a loving father, grandfather and great-grandfather.
Visitation will be held at 6 p.m. today at Berardinelli Family Chapel. Rosary will follow at 7 p.m. Mass will be celebrated at 9 a.m. Friday at St. Francis Cathedral; interment will follow at the Santa Fe National Cemetery.
Berardinelli Family Funeral Service, 1399 Luisa Street, Santa Fe, 984-8600.
Dated: September 22, 2005
MARIE M. QUINTANA, 65, a resident of Espaņola, died Monday. She was preceded in death by her parents, Juan J. and Anastacia Duran; son, Joe M. Duran; brothers, Tony J. and Willie P. Duran; special nephew, Phillip A. Martinez; sisters-in-law, Teresa Duran and Susana Duran.
She was a very caring and giving person and was always there for anyone in need. She loved her children and grandchildren. She had a love for singing and would call and sing happy birthday to all she knew.
She is survived by her son, Dennis Garcia and wife, Minnie, of Espaņola; daughters, Geraldine Lopez and companion, Paul Herrera, of Rio Chama; Denise Quintana and fiance, Miguel Caro, of Espaņola; Ruby Lopez and fiance, Jamie Garcia, of Alcalde; very special grandson, Daron Joe Garcia of Espaņola; sisters, Irene Duran and companion Tony Trujillo of Espaņola, Angie Ulibarri and husband, Pat, of Espaņola; brother, Juan Duran Jr. and ex-wife, Ursula Duran of Espaņola; special friend, Jose G. Gutierrez of Chili; nine grandchildren; five great-grandchildren and numerous other relatives and friends.
Public visitation will begin at 6:30 p.m. today at the New Hope Family Worship Center in Arroyo Seco with a wake to follow at 7:00 p.m. Services will held at 1 p.m. Friday in the Sangre de Cristo Chapel of DeVargas Funeral Home, with burial to follow at the Assembly of God Cemetery in Chimayo.
DeVargas Funeral Home of the Espaņola Valley, (505) 747-7477.
Dated: September 22, 2005
MELA J. ROMERO, 91, a resident of Santa Fe and a former resident of Las Vegas, N.M., passed away on Monday at St. Vincent Hospital in Santa Fe.
She was born in Ribera on March 4, 1914 to the late Jose G. Romero and Maria Ortiz. She graduated from the Immaculate Conception High School in Las Vegas, N.M. She retired from the Taicherts department store where she worked as a sales clerk. She also worked as a nurse's aide at St. Vincent's Hospital in Santa Fe. A lifelong Catholic, she was a member of St. Francis Cathedral in Santa Fe.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Jose and Maria Romero; sister, Margaret Rimbert; and brother, Hilario Romero.
She is survived by her brother, Eugene Romero and wife, Celia, of Santa Fe; son, Larry McNair and wife, Karen, of Illinois; a granddaughter and two great-grandchildren; and many other relatives and friends.
Rosary devotional services will be conducted at 5 p.m. today at the Rogers Chapel in Las Vegas, N.M. Services will be conducted at 10 a.m. Friday at Our Lady of Sorrows Church in Las Vegas, with burial to follow at the Mt. Calvary Cemetery.
Rogers Mortuary, Las Vegas, N.M., (800) 479-3511 or (505) 425-3511.
Dated: September 22, 2005
LISAIDA "LISA" ROYBAL, 92, beloved mother, grandmother, great grandmother, sister and friend, died Wednesday surrounded by her loving family.
She was born in Alcalde on October 22, 1912 to Marcos and Eduvigen Sanchez. She was preceded in death by her husband Samuel Roybal Sr.; daughter Eileen Roybal; son-in-law Matias Armijo; grandson Chris Roybal; great-granddaughter Nicole Shaak; great-grandson Joaquin Casaus IV.
She is survived by her children: Sammy Roybal and wife, Patsy, Dennis Roybal and friend Bob Ferguson, Sadie Armijo, Lilly Casaus and husband Joaquin, Lorraine Romero and husband, Emilio, Priscilla Ramirez and husband Robert, Edna Romero and husband Gilbert, Roberta Chavez, Teresa Anaya and husband Jake and Eileen Roybal; 31 grandchildren; 40 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren; siblings Marcos Sanchez Jr. and wife Edna, Josie Gallegos, Antoinette Martinez and husband Luis and Carlotta Serna and husband Adelaido; and sister-in-law Margaret Sanchez. She will be greatly missed by her loving family.
Visitations will be held Friday, Sept. 23 from 2 to 4 in the chapel of La Paloma Funeral Home. A rosary will be recited at 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 23 at St. Anne Catholic Church. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 9 a.m. Saturday at the same church, with Fr. Leo Ortiz officiating. Interment will follow at Rosario Cemetery.
La Paloma Funeral Home, 1424 4th Street, Santa Fe, (505) 983-2555.
Dated: September 22, 2005
FRUTOSA ORTIZ VIGIL, 96, of Santa Fe died Tuesday.
She was born on June 24, 1909, the daughter of Hilario Ortiz and Pablita Rodriguez Ortiz of Truchas. Life for the young Frutosa was richly rural. She grew up on her family's farm and helped with harvests and selling dairy products. Her childhood memories included running through the tall grasses of Truchas on her way to help her grandma, hearing her father's stories about his bear hunts and listening to tall tales by the fireplace.
At a dance in Truchas in the late 1920s, Frutosa met her future husband, Policarpio (Paul) Vigil of Cundiyo. They were married in 1930 and had eight children. The family first lived in Terrero, then Cundiyo, Nambe, and Santa Fe. Frutosa was devoted to raising her children. The reason she and her husband moved to Santa Fe was to give their children a good education.
As a young wife and mother, Frutosa helped support the family with her weaving, which was sold in Chimayo, and with her work as a chambermaid at Desert Chateau and La Fonda. Her hobbies included gardening and crocheting.
Frutosa was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, and their first two children, Henry and Lucille.
Survivors include the other six children: Theresa Utt and husband Tom of Denver, Ersinia Vigil of Santa Fe, Eloy Vigil and wife Martha of Cundiyo, Paul C. Vigil Jr. and wife Peggy of Rio Rancho, Robert Vigil of Santa Fe, and Patricia DeLapp and husband Win of Corrales. Also surviving her are 11 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be held at 6 p.m. today at Cristo Rey Church, with rosary to be recited at 7 p.m. A memorial Mass will be celebrated at noon Friday, Sept. 23 at the same church, with burial to follow at Rosario Cemetery.
Berardinelli Family Funeral Service, 1399 Luisa Street, Santa Fe, 984-8600.
Dated: September 22, 2005
AURELIA M. ANAYA, 77, of Santa Fe died July 16 after a long illness.
She was a loving wife, mother and grandmother.
She was preceded in death by her mother, Clara Rodriguez.
She is survived by her husband of 52 years, Johnny B. Anaya; daughter, Evelyn Anaya; son, Javier Vigil and Elaine Anaya; sister, Mary Gonzales; brother, Mario Rodriguez and wife Rebecca; and many other relatives and friends.
A visitation will be from 2-4 p.m. today in the chapel of La Paloma Funeral Home. A rosary will be recited at 7 p.m. today at St. Anne Catholic Church. Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Wednesday at the same church with burial to follow at the Santa Fe National Cemetery.
La Paloma Funeral Home, 983-2555.
Dated: July 19, 2005
