Stella M. Ortega

Stella Ortega, 85, of Taos passed away peacefully surrounded by her family at her daughter’s home in Ranchos de Taos. Stella was born in Questa, one of nine children. Her parents were Jose Amarante Martinez, son of Juan Miguel Martinez and Lucy Laforett Martinez, and Maria Elena Martinez, daughter of Nicholas Martinez and Francisquita Sandoval Martinez. Her husband Rubaldo Ortega, also of Questa, passed away on Nov. 9, 2000. Stella is survived by their five children—Rebecca Peralta (Ignacio) of Taos, Doris Vasquez (Cristobal) of Ranchos de Taos, Patricia Klingshirn (William) of Rockville, Md., Chris Ortega (Christine) of Santa Fe, and Andrea Sandoval (Alfred) of Albuquerque—as well as by her sister Alma Martinez of Albuquerque and brother Armarante Jr. of Madisonville , Ky. Stella was the proud grandmother of 15 grandchildren and great grandmother of 15 great grandchildren. She attended primary school in Questa, and secondary school with the Sisters of Loretto in Santa Fe. She was a lifelong parishioner of Our Lady of Guadalupe, and enjoyed serving the church by teaching CCD classes, sewing, baking for fund-raisers, and participating in the activities of the Altar Society. She also enjoyed being a member of Las Taosenas, spending time with her family, sewing, quilting, embroidering, baking, reading, camping in the mountains, and walking her dog. Rosary will be recited on Monday, March 13, 2017 at 7:30 at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church, Taos. Funeral Mass will be held on Tuesday, March 14, 2017 at 10 AM at Our Lady of Guadalupe Church. Interment will be held on Tuesday, March 14, 2017 at 3 PM at the Santa Fe National Cemetery.