Eva Larragoite

After 93 years of laughter and love, Eva Lopez de Larragoite has gone to her rest. Eva was a dynamic, creative, independent woman who was a special presence in many lives. Eva was a talented artist, award winning gardener, craftswoman, folk musician, Senior Olympian, champion speller, and enthusiastic line dancer. She had many good friends from the years she lived on Hano Road in the Casa Alegre neighborhood, as a member of La Sociedad de Folklorica, and from the Mary Esther Gonzales Senior Center. Born to Genaro and Domitila (Tila) Martin Lopez in Carlsbad, New Mexico, Eva's family moved to Agua Fria Street in Santa Fe when she was a child, and then to Franklin Avenue where she grew up with her sisters Lena, Helen, and Virginia. She married Alfonso Larragoite in 1937, and they had three children, Alfonso Jr., Jeanette, and Patricio. Eva received honors and awards for her community service and activities, including Zonta Club's 1995 Woman of the Year, and the 1993 Prime Time Expo VIII Circles of Excellence Award for volunteer lifetime achievements, which included: president of the Mary Esther Gonzales Senior Council, member of the St. John's Catholic Church Altar Society, member of the Historic Santa Fe Foundation, counselor with the Benevolent Patriotic Order of Does, docent at the Santuario de Guadalupe, volunteer for the American Cancer Society, and as a member of the Que Suave Kitchen Band. Additionally, Eva won awards for her roses and flower gardens from the Santa Fe Rose Society and Casa Alegre Garden Club. She developed the rose garden at the Harvey Cornell Park on Cordova Road, and was presented the Jardin de Eva rose garden at the Mary Esther Gonzales Senior Center. Eva was also a Santa Fe County Fair and New Mexico State Fair prize winner for her needlework and paintings, including oils and retablos. She was a guest storyteller for Friends of Open Hands, appearing with the well-known artist Pablita Velarde, and was a co-author of "1990 Cuentos: Telling Our Stories", writings by Santa Fe Elders published by Open Hands. Eva was also proud of the time she spent working at the Maytag Mansion, and delighted in setting a perfect, formal dining table. In her later years, Eva and Alfonso moved to the historic Larragoite home at 803 Agua Fria Street, which she helped restore, proudly maintained, and where she took great pleasure in hosting various social events. Her dream was to open an arts and crafts studio in the space where the Larragoite Store once operated. During Eva's last days, her sons Patricio and Alfonso Jr., kept vigil night and day at her bedside. Also in dedicated daily attendance were her husband, her daughter, her daughter-in-law Loretta, granddaughter Teresa, and namesake, great-granddaughter Eva. "Mama Eva" was greatly loved by her grandchildren Teresa, Stephen, and Carlos, step-grandson Matt, and great-grandchildren Diana, Eva, Cruz and Clio. She was a loving sister to Helen Perry and John Mac Lopez, beloved aunt to many nieces and nephews, and beloved mother-in-law and sister-in-law. Eva's infectious laughter and zest for life will remain with all those who loved her. Mass of a Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:00 AM on Wednesday, November 6, 2013 at Our Lady of Guadalupe Santuario in Santa Fe. A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, November 16, 2013 from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM in the Meem Auditorium at the Museum of Indian Arts and Culture/Laboratory of Anthropology on Camino Lejo. This obituary is protected by copyright laws, unauthorized use or duplication is prohibited.