Nora F. Montoya

Nora Frances Montoya passed away peacefully surrounded by her daughters and friends on November 14, 2019 after a lengthy illness with dementia. She was preceded in death by her husband, Ruben O Montoya, parents, Crisostomo Martinez and Pabilta Chavez-Martinez and her brothers and wives, Manuel G (Sabinita), Malaquis (Corina), Elizardo (Lee) (Cleo) and Nick (Rose) Martinez, a sister, first born child who died young and sister Carlota.

Nora is survived by her 3 daughters, Dorinda M Fredrick (Dale), Linda L Montoya (Catherine) and Theresa Nathan (Mark). 6 grandchildren, Shawn T. Fredrick (Jayne), Richard D Fredrick, Marcos R Fredrick, Tanya F Danko, Seria Gonzales Millay (Adam), Briea Nathan (Brad). 9 great-grandchildren, Cody Fredrick, Connor Fredrick, Tait Fredrick, Macie Fredrick, Otto Fredrick, Cole Fredrick, Owen Fredrick, Dominic Danko and Drake Danko. She is also survived by beloved cousins, nieces, nephews and longtime friends.

Nora was born on Friday, October 10, 1924 in Chimayo, New Mexico. Her birth certificate lists her name as Maria Francisquita Anora Martinez. She changed her name to Nora Frances Martinez when she was in HS. Her roommate was also named Anora and so she decided to go by Nora so their friends wouldn’t be confused. Her families were significant contributors to the building of the Santuario de Chimayo -- family members are buried in the front entrance to the church. The headstone of her grandparents Francisco C and Abenicia D Chavez is placed by the cross in the courtyard to the church. As a child in Chimayo she and a cousin would climb the ladders by the bell towers to ring the bells to signify a death in the village. Her children spent many summers with her parents and cousins enjoying family gatherings.

She started school in a one room classroom in Chimayo. She usually accompanied her mom and dad to Santa Fe in a covered wagon, stopping by the Camel Rock to spend the night and arrive in Santa Fe early to sell their farm products. On one occasion she noticed a school in Santa Fe by the name of Allison-James, a boarding school. At the early age of 12 she started school there and then went on to Menaul School in Albuquerque. Even though it was a Presbyterian school, she remained Catholic in her beliefs. As a student, she was involved in many activities. Her small stature of barely 5ft didn’t stop her from being a good athlete. She played Tennis 2yrs; Class Basketball team 3yrs; Class Volleyball team 3yrs (captain her senior year); Baseball 1yr; also several other clubs & Class secretary her senior year. She graduated in 1943. Her ambition was to acquire a defense job and then go on to Business College. Instead she started her retail work while living with her brother in Arizona and when she came back to Santa Fe she rented a room with one of her roommates from her future mother-in-law Dolores Ortiz Montoya. She was working at JC Penney’s at the time. In August that year (1945) Nora met her future husband Ruben, who had just returned from the service (WWII). It took only two months to realize they were meant to be together, wanting to marry in October, but waiting till Ruben’s best friend Bill returned from service in December.  They were married on December 16, 1945 in Santa Cruz, NM. Both Ruben and Nora wanted to take a Honeymoon and neither could get time-off, so they both quit their jobs. The following year their first daughter, Dorinda was born in 1946. Not quite a year later their second daughter, Linda was born in 1947.

Nora went back to work at Sears downtown Santa Fe when her daughters were in school. She was well liked by her customers who would follow her in each department that she worked in. One of her well known customers, Greer Garson only wanted her to help her when she went into the store. Mom really didn’t know who she was at that time. Mom treated everyone equally. She always told us “everyone puts their pants on one leg at a time”. She wore many hats, Brownie Leader, Girl Scout Leader, Girls Club Director, Catechism Teacher, member of the Altar Society, and her very favorite activity with the ladies in the “Stitch a Bit” Club. Not that they stitched much, but still had so much fun celebrating birthdays at favorite restaurants, spending time together at a friend’s cabin with all the ladies and just being together.

Summer times were spent in Chimayo at the home she grew up in. Taking her daughters to the acequia to wash the “Woodie wagon” is a fond memory. Going to church with family at the Santuario and spending time in her mother’s kitchen making tortillas with her mother and children.

When Nora was 37 years old, she had a surprise; she was pregnant with her third daughter, Theresa.  She wasn’t working at Sears at this time. Eventually started at the Girl’s Club where she was in her element teaching cooking, sewing & just helping the girls with their activities. This was one of her favorite jobs.

She never considered it being a job to be “Nani” to her grandchildren. She doted on all of them and they loved her to pieces. When the great-grandchildren arrived, they experienced the same wonderful loveable fun loving Nani. She was a loving wife, Mom, Grandmother, Great-grandmother, Sister, SIL, Tia, Godmother and friend.

Mom was ready to finally be with all her family who has passed before her. She died peacefully surrounded by her daughters, close family, caregivers and friends. She was an ANGEL long before she left; now she was able to spread her wings through the window we opened to her final journey. She will be missed by her family and many who knew and loved her. Vaya Con Dios Mama.

Pallbearers; Dale Fredrick, Shawn Fredrick, Tanya Danko, Duane Alire, Ginger Grant, Manuel Valesquez Jr.

 A Rosary will be recited on Thursday, November 21, 2019 at 7:00 p.m. at the Rivera Kiva Chapel of Light located at 417 East Rodeo Road, Santa Fe, NM 87505.

Mass will be held on Friday, November 22, 2019 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Anne’s Catholic Parish located at 511 Alicia St. Santa Fe, NM with Interment at Santa Fe National Cemetery at 2:154 p.m. followed by a Reception at the Rivera Kiva Chapel of Light.