MARIA ARCHULETA Age 102, beloved mother, grandmother, great grandmother, and great great grandmother was welcomed by Our Lord into Heaven on Monday, December 28, 2009. She died surrounded by her family at her home in Ojo Caliente. Our Mother was the Matriarch of the Archuleta family and had the unique ability of making each family member feel special. She was the epitome of motherhood and a pillar of strength - silently leading five generations of her family. Maria unconditionally loved everyone and because of her kind soul and spirit, she made friends everywhere she went. Maria was born in Ojo Caliente, New Mexico, to Manuel and Celedonia Herrera, raised by step-mother, Beatrice Herrera, all deceased. She was preceded in death by the love of her life, Federico Archuleta, her husband of 57 years; brothers: Ricardo Herrera and Juan Garcia; sisters: Lucia Valdez, Semonita Trujillo, Adela Archuleta; son-in-law, Maurice Manown; sisters-in-law: Asenscion Sanchez, Flora Trujillo, Josephita Herrera, Josepha Garcia, Stella Archuleta; brothers-in-law: Amadeo Archuleta, Willie Archuleta, Jose Archuleta, Juanito Archuleta, Nemecio Archuleta, Jose Valdez, Julian Trujillo, and Eduardo Trujillo. She is survived by her children: Fred (Elia) Archuleta, Jose (Mickey) Archuleta, Lucy Manown, Martin (Helen) Archuleta, Ernedes (Ross) Chavez, Cecilia (George) Rinaldi, Cel (Alice) Archuleta, Manuel (Lettie) Archuleta and Linda Archuleta. She is also survived by 25 grandchildren, 61 great grandchildren, 24 great great grandchildren; and sister-in-law, Lena Archuleta. Public Visitation will begin on Thursday, December 31, 2009, at 5 p.m. in the Sangre de Cristo Chapel of DeVargas Funeral Home & Crematory with a Rosary to be recited at 7 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday, January 1, 2010, at 11 a.m. at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Ojo Caliente. Burial to follow at the Ojo Caliente Catholic Cemetery with the following grandsons serving as pallbearers: Martin Archuleta, Jr., Ross Chavez, Jr., Keith Rinaldi, Michael Archuleta, Manuel Archuleta, Jr., Herb Manown. Honorary pallbearers: Amie Rudy, Juan S. Archuleta, Tony Archuleta, Walter Archuleta, Myron Manown, Ricky Archuleta, Terry Newman and Paul Archuleta. The Archuleta family has entrusted their loved one to: DeVargas Funeral Home & Crematory of the Española Valley, 505-747-7477 or www.devargasfuneral.com


Published in Santa Fe New Mexican on December 31, 2009