CARMELITA ORTEGA, 87, of Santa Fe died Tuesday. She was born in Rowe. She enjoyed spending time with her family and was an active senior citizen. She was preceded in death by her husband, Santos Ortega; and children, Celestino and Anita Quintana. She is survived by her children Tito Quintana and wife Maida, Shon Quintana and wife Mattie, Roy Quintana and wife Annie, Lori Baros and husband Joseph, Rosina Mendiola and companion Alfredo Maestas, Celestino Ortega, Edwina Vigil and husband Virgil, Chris Ortega and wife Agnes, and Mary Jo Vigil and husband Johnny; comadre Chana Ortega; 33 grandchildren; and many other relatives. Visitation will be held 4-6 p.m. today at McGee Memorial Chapel. A rosary will be recited at 7 p.m. today at Santa Maria de la Paz Catholic Community. Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Thursday at the same Community with burial to follow at Memorial Gardens Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Santa Maria de la Paz Catholic Community Building Fund. McGee Memorial Chapel Mortuary, 983-9151.
Dated: January 14, 2004
GENOVEVA L. ROMERO, 92, of Las Vegas, N.M., died Sunday. She was born in Holman and was a former resident of Mora County. She was preceded in death by her husband, Samuel M. Romero; brother, Elisario Lopez; sister, Cleo Romero; and children, Samuel Romero Jr., Mary Trujillo and two infant daughters. She is survived by her children, Leo Romero and wife Carlota of Mora, Orlina Grine of Las Vegas, N.M., Joe Romero and wife Lorraine of Salida, Colo., Virginia Vigil and husband Charlie of Las Vegas, N.M., and Grace Montoya of Sheridan; sisters, Selina Marquez and husband Ernest of Albuquerque, and Benicia Maestas of Colorado; three grandchildren; and many other relatives and friends. A rosary will be recited at 7 p.m. today at Nelson Funeral Chapel in Las Vegas, N.M. Mass will be celebrated at 2 p.m. Thursday at St. Gertrude Church in Mora with burial to follow at The Holman Cemetery. Nelson Funeral Home, (505) 425-6551.
Dated: January 14, 2004
BENNY SALAZAR, 72, of Alcalde died Monday after a short illness. He was a great cook and loved to cater for all occasions. He loved being around friends and family, gardening and collecting seeds to plant. He was preceded in death by his daughter, Julianna Salazar; parents, Luis and Cleofes Salazar; brothers, Filiberto Lopez, Qurino Salazar, Felipe Salazar and Wilfred Salazar; and sisters, Clorinda Garcia and Agrepina Chacon. He is survived by his wife, Cristerna Salazar; sons, David Salazar and wife Lucy, and Louie Salazar and wife Jackie of Alcalde; daughters, Elizabeth Salazar of El Llano, Bernadine Sanchez and husband Antonio of Alcalde, and Carmen Douglas and husband Drexel of Placitas; sisters, Louisa Bueno of Helper, Utah, and Jerry Montoya and husband Alfredo of Alcalde; 15 grandchildren; and many other relatives and friends. Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. today at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church with burial to follow at the Alcalde Catholic Cemetery. DeVargas Funeral Home of the Española Valley, (505) 747-7477.
Dated: January 14, 2004
RALPH M. VIGIL, 73, of Santa Fe died Sunday after a long illness. He retired from the state Transportation Department. He was a parishioner of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church and a member of the American Legion. He was preceded in death by his wife, Jessie Mae Vigil and son, Lawrence David Eli Vigil. He is survived by his sons, Charles M. Vigil, Rafael F. Vigil, Kenneth P. Vigil and Alfred G. Vigil; daughters, Margaret M. Montoya, Barbara M. Vigil and Jessica Visarraga; 10 grandchildren; and many other relatives. Visitation will be held 1-5 p.m. Thursday at Berardinelli Family Chapel. Another visitation will be held at 6 p.m. Thursday with rosary to be recited at 7 p.m at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church. Mass will be celebrated at 9 a.m. Friday at the same church wil burial to follow at Santa Fe National Cemetery. Berardinelli Family Funeral Service, 984-8600.
Dated: January 14, 2004
DELIA ARCHULETA, 70, of Questa died Wednesday. She was the owner and operator of Dee's Grooming in Questa.
She was a great friend to animals and would often take in stray dogs and cats who showed up at her door. She was preceded in death by her mother, Barbara Archuleta; father, Jose Manuel Archuleta; sister, Mary Archuleta; and brothers, Tony and Eloy Archuleta. She is survived by her brother, Alfonso Archuleta of Colorado; and many other relatives. A rosary will be recited at 7 tonight at St. Anthony Catholic Church in Questa. Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Saturday, at the same church with burial to follow at El Pueblito Cemetery. Rivera-Hanlon Funeral Home, (505) 758-3841.
Dated: January 16, 2004
MANUEL S. CORDOVA, 72, of Cleveland, N.M., died Tuesday at the Albuquerque Medical Center. He was born in Holman. A lifelong Catholic, he was a member of St. Gertrude's Church in Mora. He was preceded in death by his parents, Felipe and Trinidad Cordova; sister, Isabel Duran; brothers, Reynaldo, Joe, Cayetano and Eddie Cordova. He is survived by his sons, Manuel and Rudy; brother, Gilbert Cordova and wife Betty of Albuquerque; sisters, Arcelia Melendez and husband Frank of Albuquerque, Donnie Gandert of Mora and Dolores Casados and husband Louis of Cleveland, N.M.; special nephew, Richard Casados of Cleveland, N.M.; and many other relatives and friends. A rosary will be recited at 7 tonight at the St. Gertrude Church in Mora. Mass will be celebrated at 9 a.m. Saturday at the same church with burial to follow at the Casados Ranch in Cleveland, N.M. Nelson Funeral Home, 425-6551.
Dated: January 16, 2004
JOSE ENRIQUE GALLEGOS, 94, of Chamita died Wednesday. He was a carpenter by trade and retired from the Zia Company after 33 years. He played the violin for La Rondalla Choir. He was preceded in death by his wife, Epifania M. Gallegos. He is survived by sons, Raymond Gallegos and wife Lourdes, Santiago Gallegos and wife Lorraine and Henry Gallegos Jr.; granddaughter whom he raised, Laverne Gallegos Graves and husband Steve of Chamita; nine other grandchildren; and many other relatives and friends. A rosary will be recited at 7 tonight at the Saint John the Baptist Church in San Juan Pueblo. Mass will be celebrated at noon Saturday with burial to follow at the San Pedro Cemetery in Chamita. Block-Salazar Mortuary, (505) 753-2288.
Dated: January 16, 2004
ESTEBAN ARTURO LOPEZ, 70, of Santa Fe died Tuesday after a long illness. He was honorably discharged from the Army in 1955. He retired from General Motors in Fremont, Calif., in 1985. He enjoyed fishing and horse racing. He was a loving husband, father and grandfather. He was preceded in death by his parents, Rudy and Millie Lopez; son, Johnny Lopez; and brother, Paul Lopez. He is survived by his wife, Dolores; sons, Martin and wife Yvette of San Leandro, Calif., and Chris Lopez and wife Kathy; brothers, Gilbert and wife Margie Lopez of Windsor, Calif.; sisters, Geraldine Day of San Leandro, Calif., Elaine Henry of Haywood, Calif.; brother, Dan Lopez and wife Sally of Union City, Calif.; sister, Dollie Howsley and husband Roger of Brentwood, Calif.; five grandchildren; and many other relatives. A rosary will be recited at 7 p.m Monday at Berardinelli Family Chapel. Mass will be celebrated at 9 a.m. Tuesday at Santa Maria de La Paz Catholic Community with burial to follow at Santa Fe National Cemetery. Berardinelli Family Funeral Service, 984-8600.
Dated: January 16, 2004
RICHARD BRUCE HOLTHOUSE, 84, of Taos died Saturday.
He was born in Chicago. He loved the woods, streams, lakes, hunting, fishing and trapping. He joined the Army in March 1942 and was a veteran of the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II, serving in the European, African and Middle Eastern campaigns and was awarded medals for his service, including bronze stars. He graduated from the University of Southern California with a degree in physical therapy. He retired in 1984 after 32 years and was awarded an honorary lifetime membership by the American Physical Therapy Association. He and and his wife moved to the Plaza de Retiro in Taos in May of 2000 to be closer to their children and grandchildren.
He is survived by his wife, Colleen Lane Holthouse; daughter, Pamela Diane Harris and husband Tom of Arroyo Hondo; son, Bruce Lane Holthouse and wife Terry Davis of Valdez; three grandchildren; sisters, Beth B. Bertram of Holland, Mich., Virginia Swartout of Fairfax, Va., and brother, Robert S. Holthouse and wife Kay of Allegan, Mich.
Services have been held.
Rivera-Hanlon Funeral Home, (505) 758-3841.
Dated: January 17, 2004
EDNA V. MARTINEZ, 48, of Española died Thursday.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Jake Martinez; parents, Arlo D. Martinez Sr. and Cordilia Martinez; and brother, Gilbert Martinez.
She is survived by her daughter, Angela Martinez; son, Jacobo Martinez Jr., both of Española; five grandchildren; and many other relatives and friends.
Funeral services will be held at 9 a.m. today at La Iglesia de Santa Cruz de la Cañada with burial to follow at La Puebla Cemetery.
Block-Salazar Mortuary, (505) 753-2288.
Dated: January 17, 2004
CECILIA "CICI" VALENCIA-ORTEGA, 31, of Las Vegas, N.M. died Thursday at Northeastern Regional Hospital.
She was born in Albuquerque. She owned and operated CiCi's Child Care Center in Las Vegas, N.M. She also worked as an inventory clerk at Hacienda. She loved working with children and enjoyed going on long rides. She helped coach Little League baseball. A lifelong Catholic, she attended Our Lady of Sorrows Church and also served as a Catechist.
She was preceded in death by her daughter, Samantha Chavez.
She is survived by her husband, Manuel Ortega of Las Vegas, N.M.; mother, Annabelle Valencia of Los Lunas; father, Joseph Lucero of Albuquerque; daughter, Delilah Chavez; sons, John Julian Chavez and Ozzy Chavez; brother, Johnatan Lucero and wife Renee of Albuquerque, and Jacob Romero and girlfriend Antoinette; sisters, Yvette Roybal and husband Freddie, Cindy Lucero and husband Gilbert, and Miranda Valencia and fiancée Robert, all of Los Lunas; and many other relatives and friends.
Visitation will be all day Sunday, where family and friends may call, and a rosary will be recited at 7 p.m. Sunday at Our Lady of Sorrows Church. A funeral service will be held at 9 a.m Monday at the same church with burial to follow at Mt. Calvary Cemetery in Las Vegas, N.M.
Rogers Mortuary, (505) 425-3511.
Dated: January 17, 2004
