Nora Duran

Nora Alice Leyba Duran, formerly a long time resident of Rodarte, New Mexico, passed away on June 10, 2018 at the age of 77. She was surrounded by her loving family. Nora was born on October 4, 1940 in Vadito, NM to the late Samuel and Ophelia Pacheco-Leyba. She grew up in Ely, Nevada and moved to Peñasco, NM, when she met and married the love of her life, Roger. She was preceded in death by her husband Roger I. Duran and her son Luis R. Duran. Nora served the community by working as a teacher aid and librarian at the Peñasco School District for 33 years. During her time there she touched and impacted many lives. Nora was also a staple of the Peñasco community, co-owning a barbershop/video store for many years, bringing joy to many. She is survived by her siblings Tony Leyba (Mary), Irene Lopez (Nick), Carol Leyba, and close cousins/siblings Dennis Pacheco (Barbara), Nancy Lopez (Leandro) and Pete Romero, sister-in-law Lorraine Duran-Gallegos. Nora was a devoted and loving mother. She is survived by her children, Stella Sweeney (John), Judy Merrill (Lance), and John Duran (Lena). Nora was the beloved “Grammy” to Luis Duran (Monessa), Jenelle Gonzales-Wessels (Aaron), Brian Sweeney (Tamera), Amanda Duran (Roger), Savanna Merrill, Megan Merrill, Marcus Martinez (Bridey), Angel Martinez and Lexi Martinez. She was also a very involved great-grandmother to Jenique and Jerika Gonzales, Aislyn, Ahren, and Athan Sweeney, Nicholas Todd, Evelyn and Cesar Flores. Nora was the matriarch of the family and loved family get-togethers; any chance to spend time with her family was important to her. She was a free-spirit with a special talent for turning every place she went into a comfortable home for her loved ones. Nora was an extremely artistic lady, among her many talents were painting, sewing, cooking and crafting. She was a citizen of the world, ready to travel at a moments notice. Nora was very loved and will be dearly missed by everyone. A Rosary will be prayed on Friday, July 6, 2018 at 7PM at San Antonio-Padua Catholic Church in Penasco. The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday, July 7, 2018 at 11AM at the church followed by burial at the Rodarte Cemetery in Rodarte, NM.