Carmen M. Sanchez

Carmen M. Sanchez, 70, of Alcalde, NM passed away peacefully surrounded by her family on Wednesday, February 25, 2009, in Albuquerque after a brief illness. She was preceded in death by her beloved husband Edward (Eddie) T. Sanchez, parents Bonifacio and Rebecca Maestas, brother Miguel Maestas, sisters-in-law Lorraine Maestas, Barbara Sanchez, Adelina Herrera, and Marina Sanchez, brothers-in-law Ruben Pacheco, Robert Shadoan, Dr. Fred Carrillo, Wally Beaman, and Ramon Mares, father and mother-in-law Antonio and Louisa V. Sanchez. Carmen was born and raised in Santo Nino, New Mexico. She attended Holy Cross Catholic School and Santa Cruz High School. She had fond memories of her childhood and cherished her childhood friendships and family deeply. She met and married Edward (Eddie) T. Sanchez whereupon they moved to California and started their family. They were blessed with six children. She worked at Max Factor, as a foreman, for many years before returning to New Mexico. Carmen was also employed at the Los Alamos National Laboratory as an Electronic Technician until her retirement. After retirement, Carmen thrived on spending time with her family, friends, and grandchildren. She especially enjoyed attending and cheering for her grandchildrens sporting and school events which included; The Reds, Espanola Sundevils, McCurdy Bobcats, Santa Fe Indian School Braves, and Pojoaque Elks. She also enjoyed watching her grandsons participate in Dances at Ohkay Owingeh. She was a member of the Rondalla Choir of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, La Sociedad de Nuestra Senora del Carmel de Santa Cruz, and Senior Citizen Centers of Abedon Lopez and Espanola. She ws an avid lakers fan who enjoyed traveling, domestically and internationally, with friends and family. Carmen enjoyed painting, ceramics, and going to the casinos to visit with friends. She is survived by her children; Zelda Jaramillo and husband Louis of La Mesilla, Kathy Gomez and husband Steve of La Puebla, Eddie Sanchez, Jr. and companion Teresa Martinez of Alcalde, Danny Sanchez of Alcalde, Diana Lovato and husband Ron of Ohkay Owingeh, and Theresa Romero and husband Lupe of Chimayo. Her grandchildren include; Louis, Jr., Manuel, Marcie, and Christina Jaramillo, Andrea and Felipe Gomez, Ashley and Ivan, Joseph, Delfinio, Joshua, and Santiago Lovato, Aaron, Matthew, and Amanda Romero. Brothers and sisters include; Phil and Helga Maestas of Calilfornia, Avenicio and Angela Maestas of Santa Cruz, Ramona Pacheco of Arizona, Lydia Mares of Santa Fe, and Erlinda and Orlando Garcia of Nevada. Brother and sisters-in-law; Dora Medina of Fairview, Donna Shadoan of Alcalde, Ida Carrillo of Albuquerque, Rita Sanchez of Nevada, Susan Beaman of Nevada, Mabel Marquez of Santa Cruz, and J. Paul Sanchez of California as well as other loving relatives and friends. A public visitation will be held on Saturday evening beginning at 5 p.m. in the mortuary chapel, with a wake service starting at 6 p.m. Recitation of the Rosary will be held at 7:00 p.m. (after the wake service) also on Saturday evening. A second rosary will be recited on Sunday at 7 p.m. at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church at Ohkay Owingeh. There will be no public visitation on Sunday afternoon at the funeral home as that will take place at the rosary service at the Church. The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Monday at 10 a.m. at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church at Ohkay Owingeh with Father Terry Brennan officiating, and interment will follow at El Cementerio De Santa Cruz De La Canada. Serving as pallbearers will be; Andrea Gomez, Joseph, Delfinio, Joshua, and Santiago Lovato, Aaron and Matthew Romero, Louis Jr. and Manuel Jaramillo, and honorary pallbearers: Felipe Gomez, Amanda Romero, Ashley, Frankie Martinez, Marcie and Christina Jaramillo, and her dear friends including, Senior Citizen Centers of Abedon Lopez and Espanola, The Rondalla Choir from Saint John the Babtist Church and La Sociedad De Nuestra Senora Del Carmel of Santa Cruz.