CLARA M. ROYBAL, 84, a resident of Albuquerque for over 30 years and formerly of Santa Fe, died September 16 at home surrounded by her family. She was preceded in death by her husband Joe T. Roybal; children Anthony, Michael, Larry, and granddaughter Angelina Roybal. Survivors include her daughters Darlene Roybal of Albuquerque; Angelina Romero and husband Skip of Santa Fe; sons Robert Roybal of North Carolina, Donald Roybal and wife Pauline of Albuquerque, and Joey Roybal, David Roybal, Martin Roybal and wife Olivia, all of Santa Fe; sister Connie Maes of Santa Fe; sister-in-law Erica Mollohan of Fairview; 19 grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren, 2 great-great-grandchildren and many family members and her beloved pooch. Mass of Christian Burial was Monday at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church in Santa Fe. Strong-Thorne Mortuary.
Dated: September 23, 2003
ROBERT SUAZO, JR., 61, of Pilar, died September 18. He was preceded in death by his parents, Roberto and Costancia Suazo and his brother, Ray Suazo. He is survived by his brother, Gilbert Suazo (Tillie) of Taos; sister, Josephine Lopez of Denver, Colo., and sister-in-law Elma Suazo of Talpa; nieces Ruby Suazo (Mike Montoya), Barbara Pacheco and husband Patrick, Judy Suazo, Norma Romero, Rochelle Gonzales and Patricia Pacheco; nephews Loren and Mike Suazo, Delbert, Larry and Jeffrey Lopez and many other nieces and nephews. Funeral mass was held on Saturday. Rivera-Hanlon Funeral Home.
Dated: September 23, 2003
CELINA B. GALLEGOS, 71, of La Madera, died Monday in Albuquerque. She was born on May 11, 1932, in Taos, the daughter of Serafin and Rosario Brito. She married Jose Delio Gallegos on Jan. 18, 1949, and had six children. She was a former postmaster in La Madera and along with her husband owned and operated La Madera Mercantile Store. She was a member of the Sacred Heart Society in La Madera and was an auxiliary at the Morada of Nuestra Seņora de Guadalupe in La Madera.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Jose Delio Gallegos; her aunt, Tina Duran, who raised her; brother, Antonio "Tony" Brito; and sister, Lydia Lemos; parents, Serafin and Rosario Brito; and great-granddaughter, Gabriela.
She is survived by six children, Jane Garcia and husband David, Jerry Gallegos and wife Prescilla, Joseph Gallegos and wife Carolyn, Charles Gallegos and wife Anita, Charlene Trujillo and husband Mariano, Annette Trujillo and companion Manuel Garcia; 15 grandchildren; four great grandchildren; brothers, Clifford Brito and wife Emily, Rudy Brito and wife Bessie, and Bernie Brito and wife Emily; and many other relatives and friends.
A rosary will be recited at 7 p.m. today at the La Morada in La Madera. Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Thursday at the La Morada in La Madera with burial to follow at 2:30 p.m. at the Santa Fe National Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the American Cancer Society, 531 Harkle Rd. Suite B., Santa Fe, N.M., 87505 (505) 988-5548.
DeVargas Funeral Home of the Espaņola Valley.
Dated: September 24, 2003
SOFIA E. MARTINEZ, 82, of Tierra Amarilla, and current resident of Chamita, died Tuesday. She was a member of the VFW Ladies Auxiliary and Las Carmelitas.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Marcelino Martinez; her parents, Eugenio and Antonina Espinoza; two sisters, Marcelino Garduno and Lindy Hopp; and daughter-in-law, Merlinda Martinez.
She is survived by her son, Leo J. Martinez; two daughters, Juleann A. Martinez of Santa Fe, and Ida Espinoza of Espaņola; four grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; one special granddaughter, Bridgid; two sisters, Helen Valdez of Santa Fe and Margie Hernandez of Denver; sister-in-law, Consuelo Martinez of Tierra Amarilla; former daughter-in-law, Tina Garcia of Ensenada; and many other relatives and friends.
A rosary will be recited at 7:30 tonight at St. John the Baptist Church in San Juan Pueblo. Mass will be celebrated at 9:30 a.m. Thursday at the same church with burial to follow at 11:30 at Santa Fe National Cemetery.
Salazar Family of Block Salazar Mortuary.
Dated: September 24, 2003
ROBERT LOUIS ORTIZ, 64, of Taos Pueblo, died Sept. 17, 2003, at his home.
He was preceded in death by his sister, Marie Damon; granddaughter, Alicia Weston; and parents, Joe and Julia Ortiz.
He is survived by his children, Robert L. Ortiz, Blenda L. Ortiz and Melinda Y. Ortiz, all of Ignacio, Colo.; his sisters, Elizabeth Jiron of Taos, Marilyn Salazar of California, Rena Richards (Kean) of Ignacio, Colo.; brother, Joseph L. Ortiz (Margaret) of Taos; five grandchildren; and many other relatives.
Funeral mass will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at Indian Baptist Church with burial to follow at Sierra Vista Cemetery. Memorial contributions in Robert's name may be made to 5491 NDCBU, Taos, N.M., 87571.
Arrangements by Rivera-Hanlon Funeral Home.
Dated: September 24, 2003
RICHARD LEE PEITZ, died Sunday at his home in El Pueblo. He was born in Garden City, Kan., on Dec. 6, 1934. He grew up and lived in Reno, Nev., until his retirement from the Southern Pacific Railroad in 1995. He was a well-known artist in the Reno area, known for his intricate pen-and-ink drawings and his wood sculptures. After moving to New Mexico, he concentrated on wood carvings to embellish his historic adobe home.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Francis Peitz and Nevella Hodson Peitz.
He is survived by his wife, Barbara Stuart Hall; daughter, Cynthia Judd; brother, Donald Peitz and wife Judy; and many other relatives and friends.
Rosary devotional services will be at 7 tonight at the San Miguel Del Vado Church in San Miguel. Funeral services will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at the San Miguel Del Vado Church in San Miguel. Burial will follow at the El Pueblo Cemetery. A gathering will follow after services at the San Miguel Parish Hall.
Rogers Mortuary.
Dated: September 24, 2003
AURELIA VALENCIA, 94, of San Ildefonso, died Monday following a lengthy illness.
She is survived by her husband, Isauro Valencia of San Ildefonso; children, Joe Valencia of Rio Rancho, Robert Valencia and wife Erlinda of San Ildefonso, Jace Valencia and Ephraim Valencia and wife Lori all of California, Esther Silva and husband Frank of Rosiada, Levi Valencia and wife Barbara of Eldorado, Eli Valencia of Florida, and Dan and Lubin Valencia both of San Ildefonso; five sisters, Rosalina Gomez of El Rancho, Maria Berry and husband Charlie of Pojoaque, Ruth Montoya of Santa Fe, Concepcion Romero and Adelaida Mead; one brother, Aginaldo Romero and wife Trinidad of El Rancho; and other relatives and friends.
Cremation has taken place and a private graveside service will be held on a later date.
DeVargas Funeral Home of the Espaņola Valley.
Dated: September 24, 2003
ANN SUSSMAN WHITENER, died peacefully Sunday in Santa Fe. She was born on Dec. 24, 1920, in Glen Gardner, N.J. After attending Montclair State, she taught high school English. During World War II, she served as a sergeant in the Women's Army Corps. Later she attained a master's degree from Temple University in Philadelphia and was a guidance counselor in the Lower Moreland School district in Huntingdon Valley, Pa., where she resided for nearly 40 years. Upon retirement, she moved to Longboat Key, Fla., where she was an active member of the Longboat Key Chapel and the Retired Women's Army Corps Association. She traveled extensively, particularly enjoying an elder hostel trip to the Slovak Republic, the homeland of her parents. In 1998, she relocated to the Kingston Residence in Santa Fe, where she became a literacy volunteer and an avid student of the Spanish language. She was also a devoted member of the Lutheran Church of the Servant. In 2001, she was married to George P. Whitener.
She was preceded in death by her first husband and father of her four children, Herbert Sussman in 1984; and grandson, Colin Smith in 2002.
She is survived by her husband; her son, Dr. James Sussman and daughter-in-law Susan Sussman of Los Alamos; three daughters, Joany Smith (Rev. Trevor Smith) of Charlotte, N.C., Patricia Lindley (Gary Lindley) of Lookout Mountain, Ga., and Barbara S. Etsell (Mike Eatman) of Sarasota, Fla.; 10 grandchildren; one great-grandchild; and two sisters, Rose Mingione of California and Helene Reynolds of Longboat Key, Fla.
A memorial service will be at 2 p.m. Sunday at the Lutheran Church of the Servant followed by a reception at the Kingston Residence. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations to honor her lifelong quest of education to a favorite charity or to the Santa Fe Literacy Council.
Dated: September 24, 2003
