Ruby Ortiz-Varela

Lifelong resident of the Pecos, New Mexico area went peacefully to her eternal reward at 1:10 PM on Tuesday August 1, 2023. She was surrounded by her loving family at the family home in Pecos, New Mexico. Ruby was born September 20, 1922 in La Cueva, Santa Fe County, New Mexico to Florencio Ortiz and Marianita Sandoval. She resided with her parents at the home where she was born until her marriage. She attended elementary school in a little one-room school house from first through fifth grade. The school was located about four miles from her home and she and her older sister Nemecia walked to school together every day; rain, snow or sunshine. She completed her elementary school education – sixth through eighth grade - at the then new Glorieta Elementary School in Glorieta, New Mexico. She felt fortunate to have motor vehicle transportation to school in Glorieta. After her eighth grade graduation, she occupied herself with the many household and outdoors tasks associated with a rural subsistence farm in her small and remote community of La Cueva.

Ruby married Manuel Varela, Jr. January 3, 1949 and moved to Pecos, New Mexico. They had 12 children over the course of their 63-year-long marriage. She devoted her life to nurturing her children, then the children of extended family, neighbors, and friends, at the family home in Pecos, New Mexico. She had such great love for children that she was like a magnet for many children beyond her own. Her love and devotion to her family was second only to her love of God. Her favorite saying was “Dios por delante y yo atras de el”. She was a faithful member of St. Anthony’s Parish in Pecos her entire life. She was beloved by family, fellow parishioners, and neighbors, as well as many individuals who happened to make her acquaintance through random circumstance and fell in love with her; because to know her was to love her.

Ruby lived one hundred years and ten months; a long life despite several episodes of illness that were nearly fatal. Her life was one of service and giving. She truly believed that it was better to give than to receive and better to love than to be loved. She was preceded in death by her parents, Florencio and Marianita Ortiz; brother, Genovevo Ortiz (Escolastica); sisters, Benigna Martinez (Melaquias) and Nemecia Lopez (Juan); her husband, Manuel Varela, Jr.; and 3 infant children: Mary Jane, Freddie, and Frances. She also had six brothers and sisters who died in a diptheria epidemic prior to her birth. They were: Victoriana, Catalina, Juan, Jose, Maria del Refugio, and Juliana.

Ruby is survived by sons: Valentin Varela (Michelle); Florencio Varela (Anna Marie); Matthew Varela (Danna); Peter Varela; and Martin Varela (Stephanie); daughters: Monica Chacon (Leonel); Lourdes Adame (Enrique); Josie De La Cruz (Gilbert), and Melinda Roybal (Tobias). She is also survived by 23 grandchildren, 29 great grandchildren, 7 great great grandchildren, and numerous beloved nephews and nieces.

Visitation, Rosary, and funeral Mass will take place Tuesday, August 8, 2023 at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church in Pecos, New Mexico. Visitation will begin at 9 AM, followed by the Rosary at 10 AM and Mass at 11 AM. Mass of Christian burial will be concelebrated by Father Christopher Nnonyelu, Father Chike Uba, and Abbot Aidan. Interment will follow at the Parish Cemetery in Pecos, immediately following the Mass. Pall bearers will be: Toby Chacon; Manuel Chacon; Felipe Varela; Anthony Garcia; Jason Roybal; Jeremy Roybal; and Adam Varela. Honorary pall bearers will be Carlos Adame and Jacob Straw.

Ruby Ortiz Varela

The family of Ruby Varela extends its sincere appreciation to the many people who supported our dear Mother in the twilight of her life and who have accompanied and comforted us as we grieve her passing.

We extend special thanks to the staff of Ambercare: Ember Davis; Haide Martinez; Lyndsay Hacker; Jerah Sherman; and Dr. Karin, who attended to my mother's hygiene and health needs with both professionalism and compassion during the months that she was home-bound.

We extend sincere gratitude to Father Christopher, Father Chike, and Father Vincent for attending to our mother's spiritual needs over the course of the last years of her life. Thank you, also, James Tanuz for taking the sacrament of the Eucharist to Mama Ruby on so many Sundays.

Our family is deeply grateful to Virginia Garcia for preparing Mom's hair for the viewing, and to Los Hermanos Penitentes: James, Tomas, and Robert Tanuz; and Ryan Romero, for leading the Funeral Rosary In Spanish and English, incorporating the alabados that Mama Ruby prayed throughout her life. Thank you Father Christopher, Father Chike, and Abbot Aidan for concelebrating the solemn and beautiful funeral Mass, and many thanks to Father Christopher for doing the interment services. Thank you Johnny Varela, Gus Roybal, Philip Trujillo, and Faith Lujan for providing the music at the Mass, that Mama Ruby loved so dearly, and that moved us so deeply at the Mass. Thank you, Philip Trujillo and Rosita for the heart-felt and moving eulogy. Special thanks also to Kathy Wallace for videotaping the Funeral Mass and to Matthew and Danna Varela and their daughters, Megan, Kristin, and Briana for the video of family memories presented during the viewing. Thank you Paula Varela-Flores for the great memorial program. Special thanks to the staff of Rivera Family Funeral Home, and especially to Bob Clifford for excellent service. We must also extend special thanks to Sofia and Richard Valencia for a wonderful job, catering the reception after the funeral.

Our family has been blessed by the food, gifts, sentiments, and well wishes of so many members of the extended family, neighbors, and friends that it is not possible to list you all individually, but please know that we appreciate you with all our hearts.