Esther Sanchez

Esther Branch was born in Roy, NM on Jan, 2 1922. She grew up on the family ranch in Newkirk, NM where she learned to cook, sew, garden and work with cattle and other livestock. To Esther the Ranch was home and loved to return as often as possible. Esther was a graduate of Santa Rosa High School. In 1943 with her country at war, Esther too wanted to serve the country she loved so on June 17th, she enlisted in the United States Navy where she served until being honorably discharged on July 16th 1946. Having obtained the rank of Chief Yeoman, after being discharged she would return to the ranch where she would meet her future husband Phillip Sanchez. She later moved to Santa Fe and would marry Phillip on February 2, 1950. Esther was very involved with The Cathedral Basilica of St. Frances of Assisi & St. Francis School. She was a President and member of the Alter Society and a President and member of the Secular Franciscans. She also served as a Eucharistic Minister and lector. At the school she was a Cub Scout Den Mother, and Girl Scout troop leader, and taught arts and crafts. Esther was a retired state employee who worked for the Game and Fish department and the State Corporation Commission where she served as the Administrative Assistant to the Superintendant of Insurance. She also assisted her husband in his dental office before starting to raise her family. On December 28, 2008 Esther was called home by her Heavenly Father, after a lengthy illness. She was surrounded in her home of 58 yrs by her family, her loving caretaker Dolores, and her constant 4 legged companion Harley who rarely left her side. Esther was preceded in death by her father Albert P. Branch Sr., her mother Virginia C. De Baca Branch, her three Brothers Robert Louis, Albert Jr. and Arthur, son Ronald, Husband Phillip, aunts Guadalupe and Fabiola. She is survived by her son John of Albuquerque and Santa Fe, daughter Therese Gregory and son-in-law Jerry of Albuquerque brother in law Henry Sanchez and wife Consuelo, sisters-in-law Bertha Perez and Patricia Sanchez and many cousins, nieces, nephews, grand nieces and grand nephews. A rosary will be recited on Monday January 5, 2009 at The Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi at 7:00 pm. The funeral mass will be celebrated Tuesday at 10:00 am also at church. Interment will be at 11:30 am at the Veterans Memorial Cemetery of Santa Fe. Serving as Pallbearers are: max Sanchez, Rich Sanchez, Ernest Sanchez, George Perez, Michael Branch and Herb Grossman. The family would like to extend their sincere and heartfelt appreciation to the entire staff of Ambercare Hospice who gave so much tender, loving care, kindness and compassion in their time of need. In lieu of flowers the family has requested that donations be made in Esthers name to the Carmelite Nuns of Santa Fe, or the Santa Fe Animal Shelter.