Rita Vivian (Avila) Gallegos

After a courageous year battling cancer, Rita Vivian Avila Gallegos age 67, beloved wife, mother, sister, friend and second mom to all her school kids died on May 29, 2018 at Kindred Hospice in Albuquerque, NM. She is survived by her husband, Bennie Gallegos; sons Joey B. Gallegos and Cristobal Gallegos; sister Virginia Hull (Robert); brother Jim Avila and numerous nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, and dear friends. She was preceded in death by her mother and father Jesus T. Avila and Amelia Rivera; sisters Mona Jones, Rosemary Avila Dean (Claud); and brother-in-law Curtis Jones. Rita was born on June 6, 1950 in Oxnard, CA, to Jesus Tejada Avila and Amelia Rivera Avila. She grew up in a loving family with three sisters and a brother and graduated from Adolfo Camarillo High School in 1969. Rita loved to chaperone her sisters with her friend Delores (Dee) Dennis and her Ford Falcon and accompanied them with their boyfriends on many outings throughout Ventura County. She went on to Ventura Jr. College and graduated with an LVN in Nursing and worked at St. Johns Hospital in Oxnard, CA until she moved to New Mexico in 1980. During the summer of 1976, she captured the heart of Bennie Gallegos at a Father’s Day picnic at Camp Comfort in Meiners Oaks CA. In college, she worked hard to graduate from the University of New Mexico at Highlands with a bachelor’s degree, traveling daily from Questa to Las Vegas, NM for classes, and became a registered nurse in 1984. On June 7th, 1980 Rita married Bennie Gallegos at the Saint Mary Magdalen Chapel in Camarillo, CA and spanned over a wonderful 39 years. During those years, Rita and Bennie enjoyed endless life adventures where they traveled, camped, and lovingly enjoyed their way through endless life’s journeys. Rita was a dedicated mother that loved and cared for her family with immense passion. She also devoted countless years caring for her very large family of kids in and around Questa as a school nurse. She single handedly salvaged the Questa Soccer program, and coached many years, where the program still thrives today. She enjoyed giving and sharing her time to anyone and everyone. Her loving nature made her unforgettable to all she met. Following her cancer diagnosis, she remained dedicated to her family and fought her illness throughout her final months. Rita requested to be cremated. Her ashes will be interred at the family plot in Questa NM and will be joined by her husband upon his death. In lieu of flowers, please send a donation to The Glioblastoma Foundation. A Rosary will be held at 6 PM on Sunday 17 June 2018 at St. Anthony Church, Questa, NM. The Funeral Mass will be at 10 AM on Monday 18 June at the same location with a reception following at the Questa VFW.