Severo Cordova

Severo M. Cordova was born June 22,1924 and was called to his Happy Hunting Ground on April 18, 2018. Severo was proceeded in death by his parents Anastacio H. Cordova and Epifinia Cordova, sisters Frances Rodiguez and Viola Higgins, and daughter Cathy Cordova. Severo grew up in Mimbres Valley NM, he was the oldest of five sibling of his farming and ranching family where he enjoyed cattle drives and breaking wild horses and developed his love for the great outdoors. At the age of eighteen he enlisted in the Army where he served as a infantry machine gun operator in WWII, fought in several campaigns in the Philippines and took part in the occupation of Japan. After he was honorably discharged on Feburary 18th 1945 at age twenty two, he then returned to the Mimbres Valley where he met and married his soulmate, Aurelia (LeLa) Salaiz of 68 years. As a young man his first job was at Kennecott mining as a pump operator and owned the Copper Rose Bar and Dance Hall in San Juan NM. Severo also worked at Ft. Stanton and Ruidoso NM as a plumber. He then moved his family to Albuquerque NM where he worked as a plumber for several years. Severo relocated to Los Alamos as a pipe fitter for the Los Alamos Laboratory, his primary duties where to provide and maintain the water system to cool down reactors. Severo retired and moved to La Mesilla NM and devoted his time to his family, spending a lot of time enjoying, camping, hunting and fishing with his family members. Severo did not like to be idle, he either was building something or carving elaborate designs on gun stocks or any piece of wood that he found interesting. Severo is survived by his wife of 75 years Aurelia (Lela) Cordova, brothers Anastacio H. (Tacho) Cordova, and Luis Cordova. Severo and Aurelia Cordova have gave birth to Six Children, one deceased Catherine Cordova and survived Gloria Jimenez, Natalie Barrela, Leroy Cordova, Corrine Cordova and Elizabeth Lucero. Severo and Aurelia have been blessed with Twenty Grandchildren, Forty Six Great Grandchildren and Two Great Great Grandchildren. Visitation will be held on Tuesday, April 24th from 5-7PM followed by a Rosary that will be prayed at 7PM at Rivera Family Funeral Home. The Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated on Wednesday, April 25th at 11:30 AM at Santa Cruz Catholic Church, Santa Cruz, NM. Burial will follow at Santa Fe National Cemetery at 1:30PM.