Lourdes Salazar

Lourdes “Dee” Salazar, age 71, passed away September 16, 2024. Dee was born March 20, 1953, in Las Vegas, New Mexico to the late Adolfo David and Andrea Stella (Tafoya) Salazar. She is also preceded in death by her aunt, Rita “Cha Cha” Gurule who always shared a special bond with her. Dee was a dedicated caregiver and spent the last 12  years as a home health aide, even saving the lives of those she worked with on multiple occasions. Prior to that she was a server at both Denny’s and IHOP Restaurant where she made many friends. She loved her customers and they loved her.  Oftentimes they would wait until they could be seated in her area just so they could visit with her. Dee loved the color red and all things glittery. Dee always made sure to have her red lipstick, full eyelashes on with brows done to match, and a bubbly spirit. In her last years as her health began to decline, she was blessed to enjoy traveling to spend extended time with various siblings in their homes out of state and receiving the same care she was able to provide so many others. Although Dee did not have any children, she had many nephews and nieces that she loved like her own and was a “Nina” to all of them. 

As the oldest, Dee is survived by her siblings, Carmen Angel (Ray), Benjamin Salazar (Marta), Andrew Salazar, Kenneth Salazar (Sabrina), Doris Ortiz (Ralph), and Robert Salazar (Julia) and many nieces and nephews and extended family and friends.

Viewing will be held at Cristo Rey Catholic Church Wednesday, October 2, from 9:30am to 10:00am followed by a Rosary at 10:00am and Mass at 10:30am. Dee will be laid to rest following the services at Santa Fe Memorial Gardens.  Benjamin Salazar, Robert Salazar, Robert Salazar Jr., Andrew Salazar Jr., Domingo Ortiz, Gabriel Ortiz and Esteban Trujillo will serve as pallbearers. Rivera Family Funerals and Cremations has been entrusted with arrangements, riverafamilyfuneralhome.com.