STELLA VALDEZ,
92, a resident of Ojo Caliente, passed away on Thursday, February 12, 2009. She was preceded in death by her husband Jose Ignacio Valdez, parents; Juan Andres and Cornelia Gallegos; brothers, Andres and Jose Benito; grandmother, Franciscita; brothers-in-law; Ben Valdez, Elias Valdez and Juan Chacon; sisters-in-law; Floripe Roybal, Concepcion Chacon and Lila Valdez; favorite God-son; Alonzo Chacon. She was a homemaker and enjoyed gardening, planting flowers, cooking and baking traditional holiday goodies, such as bizcochitos and fruit pies. She cared for her chickens, cats and hummingbirds. She loved spending time with her best friend Charlotte Jaramillo. Best of all, she enjoyed going to the Ohkay Casino with her daughter Pauline. She is survived by her children, Pauline Salazar and husband Frank of Las Vegas, N.M., Andrew Valdez and Susan of Colorado Springs, Colo., JoAnn Dee, Morris Valdez and Geraldine Contreras and Ismael all of Albuquerque; granddaughter raised as a daughter; Michelle Valdez and fiancé Charles Martinez of Las Vegas, N.M., brother-in-law, Don Valdez and sister-in-law, Eleanor Valdez. She also has 16 grandchildren, 15 great grandchildren and numerous nephews and nieces, relatives and friends. Public visitation was Monday, February 16, 2009 at 6:00 p.m. in the Sangre de Cristo Chapel of DeVargas Funeral Home with a rosary recited at 7:00 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated on Tuesday, February 17, 2009 at 12:00 p.m. at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Ohkay Owingeh. Burial followed at the Ojo Caliente Catholic Cemetery with the following serving as pallbearers: Steve Valdez, Greg Valdez, Isaac Valdez, Michael Valdez, Roland Valdez, Leroy Chacon, Sammy Valdez, and Charles Martinez. The Valdez family has entrusted their loved one to DeVargas Funeral Home of the Española Valley. 505-747-7477 or www.devargasfuneral.com