Josie Ortiz

Josefita (Baca) Ortiz, 91, went home to our Lord on January 19, 2022.  She was known to her family and friends, as our beloved Mom, Grandma, Great Grandma, Great-Great Grandma, and Tia Josie to our family.  Our family loved her beyond measure and we are comforted knowing she is now enjoying her eternal reward in the Kingdom of God.

Josie was born on August 17, 1930 in San Pedro, New Mexico on her parent's 660-acre ranch. She was the 14th of 15 children born to Jacobo & Eulalia Baca.  Josie was the last survivor from Jacobo & Eulalia’s immediate family.

Josie came from a hardworking, poor family and remembered making toys that she and her sisters played with made of wood, rocks and colored glass that they would find around their farm. They might not have had a lot of money, but Jacobo & Eulalia were God fearing, loving parents that taught her to make the best in life.  This hardworking work ethic remained with Josie all her life. From early childhood she worked several jobs to help support her family.   She started with chores around the ranch such as tending to the & horses, and milking the cows. As she grew she also tending to a small store owned by her family by selling goods not grown on the ranch.  In her teenage years she worked various jobs after school & weekends in Santa Fe as a fountain girl selling drinks & sandwiches at Central Pharmacy and Woolworth.  She also worked at La Fonda hotel as a waitress and elevator girl. 

She married Ralph Ortiz, on May 14, 1951 at St. Anne’s Catholic Church in Santa Fe, and in 1952, relatives convinced them to move to California in search of better employment opportunities.  Although Josie now had one child and was pregnant with her second, she continued working first as an usherette in a movie theater and later at a Drive-In selling fried foods.   In 1961, Ralph & Josie and their 4 children returned to Santa Fe where they would live the remainder of their life.

Josie began working in Santa Fe at the Four Seasons Nursing Home as a Nurse’s Assistant for the elderly and was soon promoted to Director of Activities, since she was a natural working with the elderly. She later worked as a private duty Nurse’s aide for elderly women in their homes. Her love of working with and being around people, was part of her nature and this showed in all aspects of her life. 

Josie’s Catholic faith was of utmost importance of her life.  She practiced her faith daily and always prayed to God, Jesus and our Blessed Mother Mary to guide and be with her.  She was a long-time parishioner of St. Anne Catholic Church in Santa Fe. 

Ralph & Josie were blessed with 7 children, Diana, Marie, David, Susan, Pat, Tim & Gerald. Josie was a loving, caring mother, not only to her children, but to several generations of grandchildren.  Josie loved being with her family, whether it be, her children, grandchildren, great grandchildren or great-great grandchildren, nieces, nephews, or any family that took the time to visit with her. She was loved by all, as she was blessed with a caring, loving, nature for everyone around her, no matter who they were or what they did.

Josie was preceded in death by her parents, Jacobo & Eulalia Baca; husband, Rafael G. Ortiz; granddaughter, Josette Vigil; and grandson, Ralph David Ortiz Jr.

Josie is survived by her Children:  Diana Mayes & husband Jim; Marie Gladson & husband Dean; son David Ortiz; daughter Susan Vigil & husband Ruben; son Pat Ortiz; son Paul Tim Ortiz & Julie Trujillo; and son Gerald Ortiz;  Grandchildren: Daniel Mayes & wife, Erica; Lanna Mayes; Kenneth Mayes; Colleen Garza & husband, Matias; Tania Forysiak & husband, Filip; Jayla Ortiz; Jessica Ortiz; Joshua Vigil & wife, Monique; Zachary Ortiz; Gerald Ray Ortiz; and Alexandria Ortiz; Jennifer Aguero;  Great-Grandchildren: Isaiah Mayes; Adriana Mayes; Christian Mayes; Sienna Garza; Kaley Garza; Connor Forysiak; Janessa Chavez; Jelani Ortiz; Jacob Vigil & Haleigh Sanderson;  Alyssa Vigil & Brian Campos, Juliette Vigil; Ariana Rivera;  Samara Vigil, Elijah Vigil; Linayah Ortiz; Adrian Ortiz; Champagne Saavedra; Jalynne Saavedra; Rayanna Ortiz & Luis Munoz;   Great-Great-Grandchildren: Gianni Vigil; Nives Vigil; Ila Munoz, Elias Munoz & Emiliano Munoz.

Rosary is at 7:00 PM, Thursday, January 27th, 2022 at St. Anne Catholic Church (511 Alicia St, Santa Fe).

Funeral is at 10:00 AM, Friday, January 28th, 2022 at St. Anne Catholic Church.

Interment Service is at 9:45 AM, Monday, January 31, 2022 at Santa Fe National Cemetery (501 N Guadalupe St, Santa Fe).