Cecelia Montoya

Cecelia S. Montoya, 78, from Ohkay Owingeh Pueblo, passed from a sudden short illness at Presbyterian Hospital on November 10, 2020.

Cecelia was born on April 25 1942 in Luppe, Arizona to the beautiful couple of Amarante and Donna Silva. She graduated from the Santa Fe Indian School in 1960, and began a lengthy career as a bus driver for the Ohkay Owingeh Day School in 1978, retiring in 1998.   Cecelia married the love of her life, Donald Montoya, on March 5 1970. They had 3 children together. Donald was a Lieutenant with the Ohkay Owingeh Police Department, and passed away after a lengthy illness in 2016.  

Cecelia loved going to the senior center with her senior friends from all over NM. She loved to travel, but always made certain to watch the morning and evening news no matter where she was! Her favorite shows were Days of our Lives, Chicago Med, and Dancing With the Stars. She was perfectly content sitting, talking to the TV!   Cecelia was an amazing, God-loving woman. She knew any and everyone- guaranteed! Anyone who knows her says she has a heart of gold. She always made sure to take particularly good care of her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. She loved visiting with her all her granchildren ("grandkids"); they brought her such joy! Cecelia loved going on rides with her daughter, Donna, sons, JR and Sonny, and her granddaughter Anisa. In particular, she loved going to Walmart!

Cecelia is preceded in death by her loving parents Amarante Silva and Donna King Silva, father and mother-in-laws Lucas (Celina) Montoya, her loving husband Donald Montoya, brothers Larry and Emmett Silva, sister Norma Tafoya, and niece Henrietta Tafoya.  

Cecelia leaves behind many family and friends, her sons Henry and Jay Montoya, daughter Donna Montoya Romero, grandchildren Anisa, Toby, Elijah, Alayna and Osu Romero, and great- grandchildren Imanirae and Fernando II Castellano. She is also survived by her sisters Virgie Allison (Tommy) and Carrie Silva (Ernest, Lelani, Ernest II Clark),daughter-in-law Pamela Montoya, son-in -law Donovan Romero, brother-in-law Edwin Tafoya, neices Dee Allison, Margaret Blum, Nona and Lydia Tafoya, Millie, Erica, and Awenita Moquino, Tara and Rhianon Tafoya, nephews Eddie and Adrian Tafoya, Manny Valdez, Lawerence and Jon Moquino, Daniel Archuleta, Lonnie Montoya an sister-in-law Reycita Archuleta and Manuel Torres, Terry Montoya, Lou Little and Kathy Silva.  

To the heartbreak of all who knew her, Cecelia also left behind her faithful dog, Natashita, whom she loved dearly.

Services will be held over Zoom on 10/12/2020 for her burial. (Meeting ID: 429 172 3614 Passcode: Cecelia42). Sunday services will also be held on Zoom at the church she was a member at for many years. Her pastor Antonio Martinez and his wife Sylvia Martinez were like family to her and are doing everything they can to give her a celebration of life!  

Any memorials or gifts can be brought to family home on 132 Lapis Lane, Ohkay Owingeh. Please stay in vehicles and wear a mask. Thank you from the family of Cecelia Montoya.  

The family has entrusted the care of Cecelia to Rivera Family Funerals of Espanola until burial. Please leave any condolences, pictures, and stories at www.riverfamiltfuneralhome.com.