Maria Montoya

Maria Dora Montoya of Espanola, a beautiful woman born to Serafin and Carolina Montoya of Guachupangue.  Maria graduated from Espanola valley high School in 1977 and attended Northern New Mexico community college where she got a certificate in electronics assembly. Maria loved learning and was amazing at writing stories. In 1982 she had her first born child Estrellita at the age of 24 years old. She loved being a new mother to her daughter so much that she gave up her career to raise her. As a single mother she worked hard to earn money to pay for food, clothing and their place to live, she sacrificed many sleepless nights as she always found time for outings, time to cook, clean, do the laundry and volunteer at the preschool Estrellita attended. in 1987 Maria met her long life partner Jose cornelio Martinez of Dixon and she fell in love. In 1988 Maria had her second daughter Marisol and in 1990 she had her third daughter Noel. Maria had all the skills to make a house a home, she grew her own crops, prepared all the meals, cleaned the home, did the laundry and made clothes all while caring for her children which were her pride and joy. She also managed all the money in the home. Maria enjoyed making arts and crafts  taking her daughters to church and teaching them about God and well-mannered. She loved making home movies and helping her daughter's with school work. Both Maria and Jose took care of them until they were teenagers and the girls began having children of their own. She was so happy to have grandchildren whom she baptized and helped raise. Maria had a grand total of 10 grandchildren that she loved with all her heart. In the last years of her life she became very sick due to her many illnesses. She had developed cancer diabetes and heart and kidney failure. Though she was sick she still found time to play with her grandchildren that brought her great joy. On January 2nd Maria passed away in her Apple valley home surrounded by her family. Maria was a helpful loving wife, a respected mother, and a carrying grandmother that will be missed by her family and friends. Maria belonged to Sacred Heart Catholic Church, her last wishes were that she be remembered for all the great things that she did in her life, that she be cremated and her ashes be spread. Maria is preceded in death by her daughter Estrella Villarreal her grandmother Mary Quintana her mother Carolina Montoya her father SeraFin Montoya her brothers Arturo and Ricardo Montoya and her sister Ernestina Montoya all of Espanola. Funeral services will be on January 9th from 2-5 pm at Rivera funeral home. Memorial mass will take place at Sacred Heart Catholic Church on January 15th at 11am followed by reception at San Jose Catholic Church in Hernandez. We welcome all of you to join us for the celebration of the life of Maria Montoya.