MELISSA GONZALES, 28, of El Rito died Wednesday in an automobile accident. Her calling was nursing. She loved her kids and loved children. She was preceded in death by her grandmothers, Linda St. John and Martha Harper; and grandfather, Frank Gonzales. She is survived by her husband, Marcos Gonzales; sons, Frankie Gonzales of El Rito and Martin Williams of Alabama; father, Gene Harper of Oklahoma; three sisters, Michelle Martinez of Oklahoma, Miranda Martinez Jaramillo and husband Felix of El Rito, and Cassandra Martinez of Chili; brother, Tim Harper of Oregon, father-in-law and mother in-law, Abe and Geri Gonzales of El Rito, mother-in-law and father in-law, Dolores Sanchez and husband Chris of Albuquerque; grandmother, Virginia Gonzales of El Rito, sisters in-law, Loretta Gonzales of Española and Valerie Gallegos of Albuquerque, Stephanie Gonzales and Kimberly Chacon and husband Paul of Santa Fe; sister, Melanie Fordham and husband Jeff of Española; brother-in-law, Johnny Salazar and wife Josefina of Rio Chama; and several other relatives and friends. A rosary will be recited at 7 tonight at the San Juan Nepomuceno Catholic Church in El Rito. Mass will be celebrated at noon Saturday. Burial will follow at the El Rito Community Cemetery. DeVargas Funeral Home of the Española Valley, (505) 747-7477 or 1-877-747-3600.
Dated: July 23, 2004
KENDAL ESTRELLA BELEN GONZALES, 41/2 months, of El Rito died Wednesday in an automobile accident. She was preceded in death by her great-grandmothers, Linda St. John and Martha Harper; and great-grandfather, Frank Gonzales. She is survived by her father, Marcos Gonzales; brothers, Frankie Gonzales of El Rito and Martin Williams of Alabama; grandfather, Gene Harper of Oklahoma; aunts, Michelle Martinez of Oklahoma, Miranda Martinez Jaramillo and husband Felix of El Rito, Cassandra Martinez of Chili; uncle, Tim Harper of Oregon, grandparents, Abe and Geri Gonzales of El Rito, great-grandmother, Virginia Gonzales of El Rito; aunts, Loretta Gonzales of Española and Valerie Gallegos of Albuquerque, Stephanie Gonzales and Kimberly Chacon and husband Paul of Santa Fe, and Melanie Fordham and husband Jeff of Española; uncle, Johnny Salazar and wife Josefina of Rio Chama; and many other relatives and friends. A rosary will be recited at 7 tonight at the San Juan Nepomuceno Catholic Church in El Rito. Mass will be celebrated at noon Saturday with burial to follow at the El Rito Community Cemetery. DeVargas Funeral Home of the Española Valley, (505) 747-7477 or 1-877-747-3600.
Dated: July 23, 2004
CAROLYN HERRERA, 56, of Bell, Calif., died Tuesday at La Mirada Health Care & Hospice Center.
She was born in Las Vegas, N.M., and graduated from West Las Vegas High School. She worked in the computer division for the California Department of Motor Vehicles in Bell, Calif., and retired recently after 34 years of service.
She is survived by her husband, David G. Herrera; sons, David J. and Anthony D. Herrera; daughter, Katherine M. Aldama, all of Bell, Calif.; mother, Evangelina Lucero Johnson of Las Vegas, N.M.; brothers, Stoney J. Johnson and wife Judy of Las Vegas, N.M.; Gilbert Martinez of Kansas City; Bengie Torres and wife Carol and Billy Johnson and wife Cecilia, all of Guadalupita; and Sonny Lucero and wife Susie of Las Vegas, N.M.; sisters, Bessie Martinez and husband Ted of Las Aguitas; Brenda Duran and husband Phillip Arellanes of Las Vegas, N.M.; Yvonne Montoya and husband Alex of Rainsville; Margie Williams and Louise Sanchez and husband, all of Guadalupita; Marlene Apodaca and husband Esperion of Albuquerque; and four grandchildren.
A visitation will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday in St. Francis Chapel at Gonzales Funerals & Cremations in Las Vegas, N.M. A rosary will be recited at 7 p.m. Sunday at Our Lady of Sorrows Church. Mass will be celebrated at 9 a.m. Monday at the same church with burial to follow at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Cemetery in Guadalupita.
Gonzales Funerals & Cremations, (505) 425-9319.
Dated: July 24, 2004
ELISANDRO NESTOR LUJAN, 76, of Nambé died Thursday of cancer.
He served in the U.S. Army and in World War II. He worked for Zia Company, Pan Am and Johnson Controls in Los Alamos for 35 years. He drove school buses for Ortiz Transportation in Pojoaque for 12 years. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather and brother. He was a member of Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe Catholic Church.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Celedon and Nestora Lujan; brothers, Ramos and Gustavo Lujan; sisters, Oliva Romero and Josie Baca; and father, Frank Giron.
He is survived by his wife, Celia Lujan; daughters, Marcella M. O'Donley and husband Rudy, and Gloria E. Chavez and husband Felix; sons, Danny J. Lujan and companion Pamela Pacheco, Robert D. Lujan and wife Gina; brothers, Felix Lujan and wife Vera of Santa Fe, Ernesto Lujan and wife Carrie, and Speaker of the House Ben Lujan and wife Carmen, all of Nambé; sister, Matilda Guillen and husband Phillip of Española; four grandchildren; and many other relatives and friends.
A visitation will be held at 6 p.m. with a rosary to be recited at 7 p.m. Sunday at Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe Catholic Church in Pojoaque. Mass will be celebrated at 9 a.m. Monday at the same church with burial to follow at 11 a.m. at Santa Fe National Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in her name to the Cancer Care Institution of New Mexico Foundation, 490 A. West Zia Road, Santa Fe, N.M., 87505.
DeVargas Funeral Home of the Española Valley, (505) 747-7477.
Dated: July 24, 2004
EVEDARDO "JUMBO" A. MONTOYA, 64, of La Villita, died Thursday after a long illness. He was a loving father, grandfather, brother and uncle. He cherished life to the fullest.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Jose E. and Sinforosa Montoya; mother, Edumenia Martinez; son, Evedardo A. Montoya Jr.; sister, Angie Roybal; and brothers, Alex and Epifañio Martinez.
He is survived by his sons, Patrick W. Montoya and Joseph M. Montoya of La Villita; four grandchildren; sisters, Ramona Martinez and husband Ruben of El Guique, and Helen Maestas of Española; brother, Reyes Martinez and wife Rafaelita of La Villita; and many other relatives and friends.
A visitation will be held at 6 p.m. with a rosary to be recited at 7 p.m. Sunday at St. Anne's Catholic Church in Alcalde. Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Monday at the same church with burial to follow at La Villita Cemetery.
DeVargas Funeral Home of the Española Valley, (505) 747-7477.
Dated: July 24, 2004
SHARON JEANETTE STARK, 76, of Santa Fe died Wednesday of lung cancer.
She was born in Morgantown, W. Va., the daughter of Nelda and Kenneth Hogan. She was a member of the Santa Fe High School class of 1946. She married her high school sweetheart Walter "Starky" Stark, grandson of Santa Fe Mayor Celso Lopez. She was married for 56 years, and they raised two sons. She was a deeply spiritual woman who participated in the Rainbow Girls and Cub Scouts with her boys. She was a longtime trusted member of Healy Matthews Office Supply in Santa Fe.
She is survived by her mother; husband; sons, Bob Stark of Santa Fe and Don Stark of Las Vegas, Nev.; three grandchildren; and many other relatives and friends.
A prayer service will be held at 10 a.m. Monday at Berardinelli Family Chapel with burial to follow at Santa Fe National Cemetery.
In lieu of gifts, please make donations to the American Cancer Fund, P.O. Box 102454, Atlanta, Ga., 30368-2454.
Berardinelli Family Funeral Service, 983-4331.
Dated: July 24, 2004
WANDA LEE MICHAEL BALL, 79, of Santa Fe died Thursday.
She was executive director of Red Cross chapters in West Virginia, Virginia and New Jersey and a pharmaceutical representative based in Pittsburgh. She moved to Santa Fe in 1979 and resided with her sister, Elinor Michael, now deceased. While in New Mexico she worked for the N.M. State Department of the Aging. She was preceded in death by her sister, Elinor Michael.
She is survived by her daughter and husband, Patricia and Richard Rael of Española; son and wife, Michael and Cindy Thames of Boston; and four grandchildren.
Following cremation, there will be a memorial service in the fall. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her name to the Friends of the Fogelson Library, College of Santa Fe, P.O. Box 5341, Santa Fe, NM 87502.
Sunrise Society of New Mexico, (505) 891-8200.
Dated: July 27, 2004
ELIZABETH C. CATA, 42, of San Juan Pueblo died Saturday after a long illness.
She was preceded in death by her mother, Eva Cata.
She worked with the Eight Northern Pueblos youth and the San Juan Pueblo Travel Center. She loved participating in tribal activities, especially dancing. She loved Spanish, country and Native American songs. She enjoyed bowling.
She is survived by her son, Nicholas Sandoval, and father, Simon Cata, both of San Juan Pueblo; sisters and brothers, Betty Atencio and husband Joseph of San Juan Pueblo, Eileen Edmonds and husband Steve, Felicia Cata and husband Rick Gallegos, Chriszelda Cata and Myra Garcia, all of Pueblito; Valarie Sanchez and husband Jerome of Velarde; Randy Martinez of Oceanside, Calif.; Debbie Martinez and husband Marty Gonzales of Corrales; Darren Martinez of Albuquerque; and many other relatives and friends.
Mass will be celebrated at 9 a.m. today at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in San Juan Pueblo with burial to follow at San Rafael Cemetery in El Guique.
DeVargas Funeral Home of the Española Valley, (505) 747-7477.
Dated: July 27, 2004
