MEDARDO ORTEGA, 88, of Chimayó died Sunday. He was born in Chimayó. He was preceded in death by his parents, Nicasio and Virginia Ortega; brothers, Jose Ramon and Richard Ortega; and sister, Martha Maestas. He is survived by his wife, Jennie of the family home; sons, Eloy Ortega and wife Mary Ann, and Gus and Reggie Castillo; daughters, Bonnie Narvaiz and husband Tony, Rose Weatherly and husband John, and Dolores Baca and husband Robert; brother, David Ortega and special nephew, Robert Ortega; 19 grandchildren; and many other relatives. A public visitation will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, followed by a rosary to be recited at noon and Mass to be celebrated at 12:30 p.m. at San Martin Catholic Church, 8321 San Martin SW in Albuquerque. Cremation will follow services. Metropolitan Direct Burial Services, Albuquerque, (505) 256-9400.
Dated: April 14, 2004
DENNIS "NINO" CHRISTOPHER ORTIZ, 17, of Las Vegas, N.M., died Saturday. He was born in Vista, Calif., to Eddie Ortiz and Maria G. Encinias. He was a full-time student at Luna Community College. He loved listening to music, woodworking, electronics, boxing, playing with dogs and being with his friends. He was an avid Miami Dolphins fan. He is survived by his mother, Maria Gina Ortiz and husband Richard Sedillo of Las Vegas, N.M.; father, Eddie Ortiz of Las Vegas, N.M.; brothers, Joseph Romero and wife Christal of Albuquerque and Thomas Rascon and wife Diana of Las Vegas, N.M.; sisters, Laura Ortiz and fiancé Troy Hew of Las Vegas, N.M.; stepbrother, Richard Sedillo Jr.; stepsisters, Vicky Sedillo of Socorro, Texas, and Monica Maestas and husband Roy of Las Vegas, N.M.; best friends, Albert Herrera, Ralph Lovato and Jessie Jaramillo, and special friend, Stephanie Romero, all of Las Vegas, N.M.; and many other relatives and friends. A rosary will be recited at 7 p.m. today at the Immaculate Conception Church. A funeral service will be held at 9 a.m. Thursday with burial to follow at Mt. Calvary Cemetery. Flowers will be accepted. In lieu of flowers, donations are being accepted for the Dennis Ortiz Memorial Fund, 418 Alamo St., Las Vegas, N.M., 87701. Rogers Mortuary, (505) 425-3511.
Dated: April 14, 2004
ALFRED ROMERO, 96, of Peñasco died Monday after a short illness. He was a lifelong resident of Rodarte. He was employed with the Taos School District and the Peñasco School District where he was superintendent, as well as a principal and teacher. He also worked for the U.S. Forest Service as a firefighter. He studied at Mt. Carmel, Calif., as a seminarian, attended Regis College in Denver and graduated summa cum laude majoring in Spanish and English from New Mexico Highlands University. He was involved in scouting and was listed in "Who's Who in New Mexico." He was preceded in death by his wife, Emelina Romero; parents, Jose C. and Victoria Romero; stepmother, Regina Romero; sisters, Sally Vigil and Floraida Zamora; and brother, Elias Romero. He is survived by his daughter, Alberta Santistevan and husband Zeke; son, Alfredo T. Romero and wife Dila, of Albuquerque, and Paul R. Romero and wife Shirley of Rodarte; stepsister, Juanita Fernandez of Tooele, Utah; seven grandchildren; and many other relatives. A visitation will be held at 6 p.m. with a rosary to be recited at 7 p.m. today at St. Anthony's Catholic Church in Peñasco. Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Thursday at the same church with burial to follow at Rodarte Cemetery. DeVargas Funeral Home of the Española Valley, (505) 747-7477.
Dated: April 14, 2004
GORDON LEE SHERMAN, 71, of Embudo died Sunday after a long illness. He was a member of the American Legion Post and the Eagles in Santa Fe. He was a veteran marine in the Korean War. He was a teamster and worked as a truck driver for many years. He was preceded in death by his mother, Alice Fisher; father, William Sherman; and stepfather, Clifford Stinson. He is survived by his wife, Petrita Sherman of Embudo; sister, Cissy Jackson and husband Dennis of West Virgina; children, Kathy Lovato of Pojoaque, Michael G. Sherman and wife Rosemarie of Santa Fe and David Sherman and wife Dolores of Dixon; six grandchildren; and many other relatives. A visitation will be held at 6:30 p.m. with a rosary to be recited at 7 p.m. today in the Sangre de Cristo Chapel of DeVargas Funeral Home. Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Thursday at St. Anthony's Catholic Church in Dixon. Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Friday at Santa Fe National Cemetery. DeVargas Funeral Home of the Española Valley, (505) 747-7477.
Dated: April 14, 2004
RAMONCITA SHOEMAKER, 94, of Santa Fe died Sunday. She was born in Santa Fe and was married in 1929. She was preceded in death by her husband, Henry Shoemaker; parents, Juan Atencio and Frances Chavez; and sisters, Anita Doffelmyer and Lourdez Martinez. She is survived by her sister, Rose Griego and brother-in-law Tony; and many other relatives. A visitation will be held at 4 p.m. with a rosary to be recited at 6 p.m. today at Berardinelli Family Chapel. Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Thursday at St. Francis Cathedral with burial to follow at Rosario Cemetery. Berardinelli Family Funeral Service, 983-4331.
Dated: April 14, 2004
EMILIANO T. VIGIL, 99, of Cundiyo died Monday. He was preceded in death by his wife, Rebecca Vigil; daughters, Gloria and Frances Vigil; parents, Jose and Enepomucena Vigil; and brothers, Luciano, Marcos, Nicanor, Marcial, Eduardo and Pulita Vigil. He is survived by his children, Vera Sams and husband Ken of Albuquerque, and Jake Vigil and wife Marie of Cundiyo; eight grandchildren; and many other relatives and friends. A rosary will be recited at 7 p.m. today at Block-Salazar Mortuary. Mass will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday at Holy Family Church in Chimayó with burial to follow at Cundiyo Catholic Cemetery. Block-Salazar Mortuary of the Española Valley, (505) 753-2228.
Dated: April 14, 2004
WADE LEWIS, 44, of Las Vegas, N.M. died Sunday, April 11, 2004 at his home.
He was born in Cortez, Colo., to Roland "Pat" Lewis and Wilma Meyers Lewis. He was married at Pendaries in 1986 to Margaret Griffith. He was a self-employed cattle rancher. His greatest love was team roping. He liked fishing and was very involved with helping his sons raise steers and lambs for the county fair. He had a wonderful sense of humor and he loved the cowboy way of life. He was a member of USTRC, a 4-H leader and a horsemanship instructor.
He was preceded in death by his father, Roland "Pat" Lewis; and brothers, Bill Carter and Dennis Lewis.
He is survived by his wife, Margaret Lewis; and sons, Bret Lewis and Ty Lewis, all of the family home in Las Vegas, N.M.; mother, Wilma Lewis of Las Vegas, N.M.; brother, Jim Carter of Rio Rancho; and many other relatives and friends.
Cremation has taken place. A memorial service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at the Rogers Chapel, immediately followed by a luncheon at the First United Methodist Church, 715 National Ave., Las Vegas, N.M.
Rogers Mortuary, Las Vegas, N.M. (505) 425-3511.
TILLIE MARTINEZ, 95, of Santa Fe died Saturday, April 10, 2004 after a brief illness.
She was born in Santa Fe, the daughter of Frank and Rosarito Ortiz. She was a member of the Catholic Daughters of St. Francis of Assisi Church, La Conquistador, and a member of The Holy Family of Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Pedro Martinez Sr.; and son, Pete Martinez Jr.
She is survived by her daughters, Carmen Archuleta, Margie Romero and husband Arthur; and son, Antonio Martinez and wife Dolores, all of Santa Fe; 18 grandchildren; and many other relatives.
A visitation will be held at 4 p.m. today followed by a rosary to be recited at 7 p.m. at Berardinelli Family Chapel. Mass will be celebrated at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday at St. Anne Catholic Church with burial to follow at Santa Fe National Cemetery.
Berardinelli Family Funeral Service, 983-4331.
OVAIDO O. RAEL, 62, of Albuquerque died Thursday, April 8, 2004.
He was born in Truchas. He served in the U.S. Air Force and was honorably discharged in 1960.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Henaro and Emma Rael, brother, David Rael; and sister, Odilia Rael.
He is survived by his children, Perry Ovaido Rael and wife Rene of Rohnert Part, Calif., Stephanie Rael of San Diego, Michael Rael and girlfriend Renee of Rialto, Calif., Lynda Emma Jobanovski and husband Jovica, John Rael, and Orlando Rael and fiancée Fabiola Sanchez, all of Santa Rosa, Calif., sisters, Alice Archuleta, Mabel Martinecq and husband Jose R., all of Truchas, Miquelita Espinoza and husband Modesto of Chimayó, Priscilla Sioss and husband Robert of San Diego, Corina Maez of Albuquerque, and Diolinda Ladman and husband Michael of Union, Ohio; brothers, Gilberto Rael and wife Minnie of Truchas, and Luis Rael and wife Diana of Westchester, Pa.; and six grandchildren.
Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. today at the Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Truchas with burial to follow at San Miguel Cemetery.
Block-Salazar Mortuary of the Española Valley, (505) 753-2288.
BENITA GERTRUDIA SCHOEPPNER, 84, of Santa Fe died Saturday, April 10, 2004.
She was born in Corrumpa after her mother had been driven from their land in Vermejo Park in Colfax County. Her family moved, together with the other Marquez families to Corrumpa where they homesteaded. At age 15, she left her home and schooling to work as a housekeeper in Clayton and then Denver. In 1941 she joined St. Mary's Convent as a novicia. She completed high school in Embudo. In 1945, she attended Our Lady of the Lake College in San Antonio, Texas. In 1946, she taught elementary school in Holman. After leaving the convent, she moved to Santa Fe in 1950, got married and adopted and raised three children, and all of whom received college degrees. She worked for the State of New Mexico and was a member of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Santa Fe. She was an avid reader, loved telling stories of the "old days," and sharing her delicious biscochitos.
She was proceeded in death by her husband, John (Jack) Schoeppner; her parents, Epimenio and Juanita Salas; her brother Joe, who was killed in action, while serving in the U.S. Army, during the invasion of Normandy; sister, Irene Valdez; and brothers, Robert Octavjano Salas and Teofilo (Toby) Salas.
She is survived by her children, Therese, John and Gerard (Jerry) Schoeppner; grandson, Joaquin Schoeppner; sister, Flora and husband Luis Rivera; brother, Epimenio (Junior) Salas and many other relatives and friends.
A rosary will be held at 7 p.m. today at St. John the Baptist Church. Mass will be celebrated at 9 a.m. Wednesday at the same church with burial to follow at the Santa Fe National Cemetery.
Berardinelli Family Funeral Service, 983-4331.
