Dolly Peralta

Dolores “Dolly” Peralta, 78, passed away peacefully surrounded by her loving family at her home in Taos on April 28, 2023. She was born on March 10, 1945, in Taos, New Mexico, to the late Selso and Cordelia Martinez. She is preceded in death by her sisters, Francella McGinnis, Frances “Pancha” Reynolds, and Gloria Martinez. She is survived by her husband, Fred Peralta, her children, Stephen (Carol), Carolyn (Clint), Daniel (Kendra), and Catherine (Arlee), her grandchildren, Stephen, Elizabeth, Sarah, Allison, Noelle, and Benjamin. She is also survived by her siblings, Eloy (Rose), Connie, and Johnny (Juanita) and brother in-laws, Alfred (Elizabeth), Louis, Ignacio (Rebecca), and Ted Martinez. Dolly along with her husband Fred, owned and operated the Lilac Shoppe for 16 years where she arranged flowers and took great care of a garden center with multiple greenhouses. Much of her life was devoted to making the community a better place, though she never sought recognition for her efforts. She was a First Lady of Taos, served on the Citizen Review Board for New Mexico’s Department of Human Services and was the first female president of the Taos Milagro Rotary Club. Dolly was also involved with the Junior Achievement board, the Taos Institute of Arts, the Taos Community Foundation, Men Engaged in Nonviolence, the Los Jardineros Garden Club, and her Taos High School class reunions. She provided meals to the Taos Men’s Shelter and read to school children through For the Love of Reading. Dolly was named Woman of the Year in 2003, an Unsung Hero in 2012, and received a Taoseña Award in 2022. Dolly will be remembered as a kind-hearted, compassionate, and loving person who dedicated her life to helping others. She loved God, all people, birds, nature, reading, traveling, lunches with girlfriends, and attending church and breakfast afterward with family and friends. She also enjoyed getting away to Chama where she relaxed by baking and gardening. Dolly treasured being with her family. At her home in Taos she enjoyed entertaining others and sharing delicious meals and many laughs. She truly believed in living one day at a time and did just that! 

Rosary will be recited on Friday, May 12th, 2023 at 7 PM at Our Lady of Guadalupe.  Funeral Mass will be held on Saturday, May 13th, 2023 at Our Lady of Guadalupe at 10:00 AM followed by a reception at Sagebrush Inn at 12:00 to 2:30 PM.

Arrangements by Rivera Family Funeral Home. To share a memory, please visit our website at www.riverafuneralhome.com