Selina Byers – 91
Selina Byers was born on June 11, 1926, in Cerrillos, New Mexico, to Luis and Flora Leyba. Selina was the oldest of fourteen siblings. She was called to be with Jesus on October 8, 2017. Selina’s greatest love was the Lord, having received Jesus as her Savior in 1983.
Selina graduated from high school as her class valedictorian. She always encouraged her children and grandchildren to study and go to school and get a good education. After high school she moved to Santa Fe to work to help support her family. She worked at Bruns Hospital and the La Fonda where she met the love of her life Jack Byers. In 1952, Selina married, Jack to whom she was married to for 63 years, until his passing in 2015.
Selina was also preceded in death by her parents Luis and Flora; daughter Juanita; in-laws William and Carrie Byers; sisters: Antonia Montoya, Chanita Leyba and Katie Baca; sisters in-law Pauline Leyba and Geneva Martinez; brother in-laws Arthur Hentzen, Victor Vandersommen, Tomas Gonzales, Ernest Byers, Joe Robert Byers, William Byers, Jr. and Jimmy Martinez; son-in-law Joe Rael, grandson John Martinez and great-grandson Ethan Narvaiz.
Selina will be lovingly remembered by her siblings: Mona Leyba; Marcella Vandersommen; Cayetano Leyba (Connie); Jerry Leyba; Mike Leyba (Tommie); Ray Leyba (Vicky); Aurora Hentzen; Mary Louise Rodriguez (Mike); Paul Leyba; and Mary Jo Gonzales; her children: Sharlet; Carolynn Roibal (Gerald); John (Melissa); Gerald; Maria Rael; Gale Hanson (Coby). Grandma Selina will also be fondly remembered by her grandchildren: William Roibal (Tebrina); Loretta Booker (Lucas); Mauricio Guevara (Shannon); Paul Martinez; Angelea Byers; Johnny Byers; Jackie (Blue) Byers; Jerald Byers; Jeremie Byers; Selina Byers, Christina Sena (Marcos); Samantha Valenzuela (Alejandro); Josh Hanson and Luke Hanson. Great-Grandma Selina is also survived by 23 great grandchildren and one great great grandchild; and sisters in-law Lena Meagher; Josie Byers, Irene Byers and Lyda Byers; brothers in-law Pasqual Baca and Albert Montoya, as well as numerous nieces and nephews.
A viewing and family visitation will be held on Monday, October 16th at 6:00 P.M. at the Kiva Chapel at Rivera Family Funeral Home, 417 East Rodeo Road; Celebration of Life Service will be held on Tuesday, October 17th at 11:30 a.m. at Christian Life Church, 121 Siringo Road, with internment to follow at 1:30 P.M. at the Santa Fe National Cemetery. Following the burial there will be a time of fellowship at the Santa Maria de la Paz Social Hall, 11 College Avenue. Serving as pallbearers will be William Roibal, Jerald Byers, Jeremie Byers, Johnny Byers, Josh Hanson and Luke Hanson. Honorary pallbearers will be Christina Sena, Arturo Avalos, Manuel Roibal, Jacob Byers, Jerald Byers III, Jasiah Byers, CJ Narvaiz, Elijah Booker, Alejandro Valenzuela, Jr. and Adriel Sena.