Maria Valdez

Maria C. (Grace) Hurtado Valdez, also known by close family as Chelda, age 84, a resident of Nambé, NM, passed away peacefully surrounded by family on January 2, 2024. She was born on July 9, 1939, in Santa Fe, NM to George and Pablita Tapia Hurtado who preceded her in death. Grace is also preceded in death by her husband Esquipula N. Valdez; grandsons John Anthony Valdez and Danny Ray Ortiz; great-grandson Jordan Valdez; brother Ray Hurtado; sister Margaret Quintana; nephew Marcos Hurtado; grandparents Reymundo and Atocha Hurtado, and Jose Guadalupe and Margarita Tapia; in-laws Felipe and Ursusina Maestas Valdez; brothers-in-law Joe Saiz and Robert Ortiz; brothers and sisters-in-law Pablo and Molly Valdez, Ramon and Augustina Valdez, Felipe A. and Bernie Valdez; and many other relatives.

Grace is survived by her daughters JoAnn Lopez (Leopoldo) and Maria Valdez (Daniel Cardiel); sons Manuel G. Valdez (Elsie), George Valdez, Leroy Valdez, Chris Valdez, John Valdez, Roman Valdez (Isabelle Duran), and Joseph Phillip Valdez (Francine); sisters Susie Saiz, Bernadette Ortiz, and Irma Gonzalez (Rene); brother-in-law Dennis Quintana; aunt Maria Duran; twenty-three grandchildren; thirty-two great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild on the way; numerous nephews, nieces, cousins, other loving relatives, friends, and many others throughout the community who considered her their second mom.

Public visitation will be held on Monday, January 15, 2024, at 5:00 pm at Sagrado Corazon de Jesus Catholic Church in Nambé, NM with a rosary to follow at 6:00 pm. Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated on Tuesday, January 16, 2024, at 10:00 am at Sagrado Corazon de Jesus Catholic Church with the burial to follow at Nambé Catholic Cemetery. Serving as pallbearers for Grace will be her sons. Honorary pallbearers will be her daughters, godson Manny Saiz, and all of her grandchildren.