Ida Spagnola

Ida Spagnola passed into eternal life at 3AM, Saturday, August 13, 2022. A devoted wife and mother, she was preceded in death by her husband Anthony John Spagnola, parents Leandro Gallegos and Octaviana Salazar, brothers Robert Gallegos and Odon Gallegos, and sister Henrietta Alarid. 

Through her humility and honesty, Ida brought out the best in everyone who had the fortune to know her. She showed her love through her limitless creativity, down-home skills and patience—and showered that love on her children and grandchildren.

Ida got great joy in weekly Sunday dinners and hosting family over the holidays, events often punctuated by her delicious home-made lavender lemonade and various fruit pies—pies which once graced the plates of El Nido in Tesuque. 

She dedicated years volunteering to help those with developmental differences at the former local charity Open Hands, eventually receiving a paid position in recognition of her work. 

Ida was a skilled seamstress and a master of embroidery, making many articles of clothing over the years, from charming costumes for her grandchildren to complex flamenco dresses for her daughter and even high-fashion items for the opera-elite.

At her core, Ida was a salt of the earth New Mexican. Whenever faced with a challenge, she found a way to create a solution, and her solutions were always elegant, beautiful and—when edible—endlessly delicious.  

Ida leaves behind her three children, Tamara Spagnola, Chris Spagnola, and John Spagnola, and his wife Susan Fioretti, grandchildren Robert Culbert and his wife Felicia Culbert, David Culbert, William Culbert, Nicole Spagnola, Sarah Spagnola, Lucca Spagnola, and two great-grandchildren, Ben and Caroline Culbert, sisters Josephine Aguino, Regina Archuleta, Betty Anzaldua, Alice Staley, and Rosella Martinez, and many cousins, nieces, and nephews. She was 92 years old and will be dearly missed.

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