Vivian Enriquez Wolfe, 72, died at her home on Saturday, February 4, 2012 with two sisters and caregivers present. She was born March 19, 1939 in Las Cruces to William M. Enriquez and Anita Nevarez Enriquez. She attended Holy Cross School and graduated from Las Cruces High School. After graduation she entered Our Lady of the Lake Convent in San Antonio, Texas where she earned a BS in Education and a Master's Degree in Social Work. At the convent, she took her vows and became a nun with the Sisters of Divine Providence. She taught elementary school at various Catholic schools in Texas and Louisiana. After ten years as a nun, in 1967 she left the Order on good terms, and moved to Ft. Worth, Texas where she continued teaching. She made a career change to social work and later married John L. Wolfe. Vivian began her career as a Social Worker in Dec. 1969 with the U.S. Federal Prison System, called the Clinical Research Center in Ft. Worth. During her career, Vivian received Sustained Superior Performance Awards and was selected as Employee of the Month in August, 1987. She was recognized with a Special Act Award for outstanding performance during the conversion of the prison from co-correctional to an all-male population. She retired from the Bureau in 1989. In 1995 she and John moved to Las Cruces to be closer to her family. For a few years she conducted a women's support group called Las Mariposas. After John passed away in 1999, she became involved with the late Consuelo Lerma and others in the East Side Neighborhood Group, Las Esparanzas. A gifted writer, she contributed articles, mainly on historic aspects of Las Cruces, to the Las Cruces Sun-News and Las Cruces Bulletin. Vivian was a very intelligent and caring person who helped out friends and family when they were in need. She loved her sisters, brothers-in-law, all her nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews and best friends. And of course, she loved all of her special cats and dogs.

Vivian is survived by her sisters: Mary Pascador (husband Jerry) of Corpus Christi, TX, Juliette Enriquez of Mesa, AZ, Rita Jill Montes (husband Lawrence) of Las Cruces, nephews Bill Pascador, NY, NY., John Pascador, San Antonio, TX, David Pascador, Maricopa, AZ, Victor Enriquez, Phoenix, AZ, Michael Montes and David Montes of Las Cruces; nieces Debra Archuleta, Mesa, AZ and Amy Barrio, Surprise, AZ; and thirteen great nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, John and adopted son, Jay Wolfe. Cremation has taken place and a funeral Mass to celebrate her life will be held at Immaculate Heart of Mary Cathedral at 8 am, Saturday, Feb. 11, 2012. Rite of Committal will be at the IHM Columbarium.

The family wants to thank Mesilla Valley Hospice, everybody at Alpha Nurses Homecare, and especially our angel, Connie Valles, of Alpha Nurses. Entrusted to Baca's Funeral Chapels and Baca's Sunset Crematory, 300 E. Boutz Road, Las Cruces. 527-2222 To send condolences online log onto www.bacasfuneralchapelslascruces.com

Published in Las Cruces Sun-News on Feb. 8, 2012
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