Maryrose Montalvo

Maryrose L. Montalvo was born on January 11, 1965, and departed this life on May 22, 2020.  She was the second of five daughters born to Joe Percy Luján and Josie Espinoza Luján, and was raised in a close, loving family home in Chimayó.  Her name was inspired by her mother’s devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary and her father’s fondness for the song “Give My Love to Rose” by Johnny Cash. 

Maryrose Luján was 15 years old when she met Michael Montalvo at McCurdy school. They were high-school sweethearts and married a few years later. On June 1, 2020, we will celebrate their 35th wedding anniversary. Together, they raised three beautiful children:  Nathaniel, Chris, and LeeAnne. They were blessed with a grandson, Little Christopher, whom she called “mi lindo,” and who immediately consumed her time, attention, and entire heart. 

From an early age, Rose was proud of her father’s career as a firefighter; Michael answered the same calling, and she became a life-long daughter and wife of the fire service.  She was Michael’s biggest supporter, making a home for him and the kids through long and dangerous work shifts, including the Cerro Grande Fire where Michael was on the frontline for many weeks. 

As a full-time working mother of three small children, she earned her bachelor’s degree and went on to enjoy a 25-year career at the Los Alamos National Laboratory. Michael supported all of her dreams, as she supported his.  While she was in night and weekend classes, Michael took the kids to visit their grandparents in Cordova and Chimayó and to hang out with their Aunties, Uncles, and cousins. Poor Rose was stuck in school while the rest of her family was having a wonderful time hanging out together, but she knew it was a worthwhile sacrifice and she gladly made it.  Throughout all the school years, she and the kids waited anxiously for Michael to get home after each shift, usually loading into the car to head to a school or sporting event, camping or fishing, and even Black Friday sales where he patiently waited in the car for her, sometimes dozing to catch some much needed rest. Her family knew she was safe and happy because Michael was with her.

As the kids grew older and their interests expanded, Rose, like her own mother Josie, insisted that they know their heritage and explore the world to better understand it. She and Michael loved planning family vacations and they accompanied their children on many school trips. Rose was drawn to Spain because of its historic significance to northern New Mexico, and to Rome’s Vatican and Sistine Chapel, revering both since childhood.  She felt especially blessed to visit Ephesus, and told us again recently about her profound experience visiting the place believed to be where the Blessed Virgin Mary lived the final years of her life.  Regardless of the destination, Rose made sure her family had fun.  On every trip, she scheduled outings to museums and landmarks, but also amusement parks and malls. Wherever they went, her favorite spot was the beach—any beach.  Rose loved the ocean and she always returned home with a smile and a suntan. 

Rose and Michael’s home in Alcalde was filled with noise and laughter.  There were usually countless kids playing hoops outside or video games inside, getting ready for prom, or studying for finals or SATs.  Growing up in a house full of girls, Rose was amazed at how much boys could eat, and she was happy to stock her refrigerator for her kids and their friends.  She was amused when Nathan learned to hunt with uncles and aunts because as an adult, he could fill his own freezer.  

 She LOVED, LOVED, LOVED basketball.   Her favorite games were any games in which her kids played.  Everyone recognized her car following team buses across the state to whatever game or tournament was next.   She knew stats for all northern New Mexico teams, and gave late-breaking updates to friends and family on their own home teams, and she always reminded her family to book hotel rooms early for the state championship games. 

In 2005, Michael and Maryrose lost their precious son, Christopher, at age 17, in an auto accident.  There are no words to describe their anguish, and she felt that sorrow every day since, often sharing a memory only his mother would know.  She took Chris’s energy and love of learning, and with Michael created a scholarship in Chris’s name, first at Pojoaque Valley High School, then at Northern New Mexico College.  Rose also became an enthusiastic advocate for literacy and started a Summer Reading Program for northern New Mexico children in collaboration with her teacher and close friend, and Chris’s favorite author, Rudolfo Anaya.   She was the driving force behind the 2019 New Mexico law establishing “Rudolfo Anaya I Love to Read Day” as a new state holiday, relentlessly lobbying state lawmakers with fresh biscochitos.   

Like her mother and father, Rose had a passion for reading, and passed it on to her daughter LeeAnne and grandson Christopher.  On any given day, they could all be found in different areas of the house quietly buried in a good book.  LeeAnne could never turn away a stray animal, and Rose repeatedly discovered a new family pet at her front door.  As her only daughter, Rose delighted in dressing little LeeAnne in pageant-style ribbons and bows, frills, and fluff for priceless formal portraits. LeeAnne eventually fought back and Rose, respecting LeeAnne’s wishes for blue jeans and sneakers, set her sights on her sister Margaret’s daughters, who loved Auntie Rose’s attention and hot pink girlie gifts.  Years later, the tables would turn and LeeAnne was the one giving girlie gifts to Rose, like specially selected goat milk soaps and lotions “good for mom’s skin.” Above everything, LeeAnne gave her mother one of life’s greatest gifts—the chance to witness the birth of her grandson, named for his Uncle Chris.     

Rose loved Christmas, spending time with family and friends, listening to northern New Mexican musica, and dancing.  She was an avid listener and frequent caller to KANW’s New Mexico music show on Saturday mornings, requesting songs from her childhood—anything by Perfección or the Purple Haze.  She was elated when, from her bedroom window, she could hear the Blue Ventures practicing.  She had a beautiful smile and a great sense of humor, and she and close friends often erupted into laughter on sight, without a single word.  She loved great coffee, great wine, and great conversation.

Rose shared an exceptionally close relationship with her sisters--the Five Marys.  Their parents dedicated their lives to their girls and taught them to stick together—no matter what; to never leave one another—no matter what; and that their best friends would always be each other—no matter what.  As children, they shared everything:  their name, a home telephone, one bathroom, clothes, friends, secrets, y los cariños y consejos de los abuelos.  Esther and Rose, the two eldest, naturally looked out for and protected the others, from their infancy and through their school years.  Jo, born 13 months after Rose, was her constant sidekick.  Bethie and Margie, the babies, followed their older sisters everywhere and in every way.  Michael never batted an eyelid when he arrived to pick up Rose and any, or all, of the girls asked to tag along. There was always room in his car for Rose’s sisters, and their dates were often a party of six. 

In adulthood, the sisters became even closer, choosing to share their lives, homes, children and grandchildren (“the second and third strings”), and all of life’s joys and heartaches.  Rose felt strongly that it takes a village to raise a child and she taught her children to understand the blessing of her relationship with their aunties (she herself being a proud member of the “Auntie Squad”).  Michael understood Rose’s connection to her sisters, and willingly took the back-seat when they were around—usually for a whole day or weekend when they’d get together for a slumber party and call him for a Starbucks or Sonic run.  Their bond is indescribable as is their sadness, and they will forever thank God for being born into the same family as Rose.

Maryrose was preceded in death by:  her son, Chris; her parents, Joe Percy and Josie Luján; her Gramita Pilar Espinoza, maternal grandparents Leandro and Magdalena Espinoza, and godfather, Uncle Ben Espinoza, Uncle Ernest Espinoza, and Aunt Celsa Quintana, all of Chimayo; paternal grandparents, Jose and Genoveva Luján, and Melinda Valencia Perez, all of Pecos.  She is survived by her husband, Michael, son Nathaniel (Ashley), daughter LeeAnne, and grandson Christopher Montalvo-Ruiz; sisters Mary Esther (Tom Lucero), Mary Jo (Kenny Martinez), Mary Beth, and Mary Margaret (Steve Ney); father-in-law Pablo Montalvo and mother-in-law Fedelina Montalvo of Cordova; brothers-in-law Gus Lugo (Mier), Robert Lugo, Jerry Lugo (Geraldine), and Joel Montalvo (Desiree); Uncles Tony Lydro Perez (Elva) and Robert Perez (Mary) of Texas; Godmother, Aunt Theresa Espinoza of Chamita; Aunt Martha E. Vigil of Chimayo, and many dearly loved nieces, nephews, godchildren, cousins, friends, and colleagues.

Maryrose was devoted to her Catholic faith, with a particular devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary and St. Thérèse of Lisieux, the Little Flower of Jesus.  Her sisters frequently told her she was the rose promised and sent by St. Thérèse to their family.  She felt blessed to see that in May, the Month of Mary, Little Christopher received his Sacraments of Reconciliation and First Communion.

 A private Mass for the Eternal Light of Maryrose will be celebrated for the immediate family with burial at Holy Family Church’s Dolores Cemetery in Chimayo.  The family looks forward to a celebration of her life at a later date when all family and friends can gather safely, and asks that all who wish to share condolences, stories, and memories please do so at the Rivera Funeral Home tribute page created for this purpose.