Ernestina Marina Cruz

Ernestina Marina Cruz was called home by the Lord on Wednesday, July 18th surrounded by her loving family. Ernestina was a homemaker and along with her husband, Epimenio, raised their four children in the beautiful mountain village of El Valle. She lived a life filled with faith, kindness, and generosity. She was a longstanding parishioner of Holy Family Parish in Chimayo and attended religious services at La Iglesia de San Miguel in El Valle. Ernestina was regarded throughout her life as a masterful homemaker who enjoyed baking, cooking, gardening, and sewing. All who entered her home felt a sense of great love and joy in knowing that she would offer a hot cup of coffee with biscochitos or a hot meal with freshly made tortillas. She enjoyed listening to Spanish and classic country music and kept the radio dial on her favorite radio station, KDCE. She was an avid reader and daily completed word search puzzles in both paper form and on her Kindle, which she quickly learned to use. Ernestina was involved with her local Anciano Center in Chamisal where she had numerous friends. She had a large extended family and was viewed by many as their second mother. In her final days, Ernestina continued to live an active lifestyle being sure to take a daily walk and tending to her garden where she grew avas, arvejon, and calabacitas along with her lovely flowers. In her passing, the family takes great comfort in knowing that she is at peace and has been welcomed by God’s loving embrace. Ernestina is survived by her children, Selfa (Raymond) Romero of Albuquerque, David (Judy) Cruz of El Valle, Carmen (John) Rudkin of Rio Rancho, and Velma Cruz of Rio Rancho; grandchildren, Peggy (Jeff) Lunsford, Greta (Lawrence) Cavalier, Ernestina R. Cruz, David (Rosalie) Cruz, Deborah (Christopher) Garcia, and Richard Rudkin; her great-grandchildren, Andrew (Elisha) Romero, Brittney Cavalier, Steven Ramirez, John Garcia, Alanna Garcia and Nicolas Cruz; great-great-granddaughter, Alyssa Romero; brothers and sisters, Ernesto (Andreita) Romero, Pablo (Julia) Romero, Felicia (+Leo) Steinberg, Miguel Romero & Doris Tafoya, and Policarpio Romero & Juanita Roybal; and many other dear family members and friends. She is preceded in death by her husband, Epimenio Cruz; her parents, Pablo and Margarita Romero; beloved sister and second mother, Celina Padilla; siblings who passed at a young age, Ofresinia Romero, Estella Romero, and Frutoso Romero, and great-grandson, Christopher Garcia. A Rosary will be prayed on Monday, July 24th at 6 p.m. at Rivera Family Funeral Home in Española. The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Tuesday, July 25th at 11 a.m. at San Antonio de Padua Catholic Church in Peñasco. A reception will follow afterwards at the Peñasco Community Center. 14136 NM Hwy 75, Penasco, NM 87553. Burial will take place in the afternoon at the Santa Fe National Cemetery at 3 p.m. Ernestina will be lovingly remembered and deeply missed by her family and friends. The family wishes to express their genuine appreciation to the Peñasco Volunteer Fire Department, the Taos County Emergency Medical Services, the medical staff at Presbyterian Hospital in Española, and the employees at Rivera Family Funeral Home for the kindness and care they showed Ernestina and the family during this most difficult time.