Julia Ester Rael

Julia Esther Rael, 94, of Arroyo Hondo, suffered a stroke while fishing with her daughters in Red River. She passed away at Holy Cross Hospital surrounded by her family. She was residing at The Hampton Retirement Home in Houston since the death of her husband, J. M. Rael in 2004. She had come to spend time at her home and to attend her granddaughter's wedding. She is preceded in death by her husband, Jose Melecio Rael, Jr., son, baby Mele, parents, Benito and Refugio Vigil and brother, Leopoldo Vigil. She is survived by her sons, Teodoro (Marta), Modesto (Elena), Melecio (Linda), daughters, Soledad (Alfonso) and Sara (Fernando), sisters: Refugio (Ricardo) Medina, Beatriz Martinez, sisters-in-law; Alicia Vigil, Cornelia Kittredge and Oclides Sohn, 16 grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. Visitation was held on August 24, 2010 followed by a rosary at Rivera Chapel. Funeral mass was held on August 25, 2010 at Our Lady of Sorrows Church in Arroyo Hondo. Interment was held at the Rael Cemetery. Grandsons served as pallbearers; Nataniel, Razvan, Ted, Diego, Julian, Antonio and Jose Benito Rael, Alfonso and Daniel Martinez, and Carlo and Marco Pena. Special thanks to the Red River paramedics and Taos Hospital staff for their quick response and wonderful care our mother received.