Patricia Guajaca

Our beautiful mother, Patricia Guajaca, died peacefully early Sunday morning surrounded by her loving family after a short illness. A rosary will be recited at 6 pm Wednesday, December 9, 2009 at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church. A funeral mass will be celebrated at 9 am, Thursday, December 10, 2009 at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church with Father Juan Antonio Gutierrez O.F.M. officiating. Burial will follow at South Park Cemetery. Patricia was born April 28, 1929 to Esteban and Miquela Hernandez in Hondo, NM. She and Elias Guajaca were married December 18, 1949. They will joyously celebrate 60 years of marriage in heaven this year as Elias has preceded her in death. Patricia was a retired teacher with the Roswell Head Start Program where she dedicated her life to working with children and their families. She is fondly remembered by many children who she taught. Patricia was a very active member at St. John’s Catholic Church, was a Eucharist Minister and a Minister for the sick. She was a Cursillista, Lector, a member of a bible study group and sang in the choir. Patricia was also a volunteer at Eastern New Mexico Medical Center. She loved to dance and was a great story teller. She also loved working in her yard, gardening and raking and was still actively doing that when she fell ill. She will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved her. Patricia is survived by four daughters; Miquela Rue, Frances Lucero and her husband Bob, Patricia Coronado and her husband Rick, Lydia Saiz and her husband Larry all of Roswell, three sons; Richard Guajaca of Albuquerque, Freddie Guajaca of Sacramento, CA, and Anthony Guajaca and his wife Kathy of Roswell, two sisters; Lucia Montes and her husband Jesus of Alamogordo and Helen Aragon of Albuquerque, four brothers; Albert Hernandez and his wife Isabel of Carrizozo, Mike Hernandez and his wife Pilar of Ruidoso Downs, Bill Hernandez and his wife Betty of Alamogordo, Joe Hernandez and his wife Viola of Hondo, seventeen grandchildren; Mario Rue, Melissa Rue-Sanchez, Jeremy and Jonathan Ramirez, Gabriel Lucero, Yvette Nguyen, Mary Ann Lucero, Nick, Richard Jr., Christopher, Matthew, Vincent, Izaak and Izaiah Guajaca, Camille Coronado, Valerie Merrifield and Jessi Hernandez, eleven great grandchildren; Mercedes Rue, Anissa Munoz, Annelise Guajaca, Arianna and Raelynn Sanchez, Hannah Guajaca, Cameron and Morgan Lucero, David, Joshua and Ian Guajaca. In addition to her husband Elias, Patricia is preceded in death by her parents Esteban and Miquela Hernandez, brothers; Charlie, Steve and Jose Hernandez, sisters; Connie Montes, Annie Pena, and baby sisters, Cruzita and Jesusita Hernandez. Pallbearers will be her grandsons. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. John’s Catholic Church in her honor to St. John’s Catholic Church, 506 South Lincoln, Roswell, New Mexico 88203. The family would like to thank Dr. Reynaldo Martinez and Vista Care for their care of our mother in the short time of her illness. Please share your thoughts and memories with the family in the online register book at andersonbethany.com Services are under the direction of Anderson-Bethany Funeral Home & Crematory. I’m Free Don’t grieve for me, for now I’m free I am following the path God laid for for me. I took His hand when I heard Him call, I turned my back and left it all. I could not stay another day to laugh, to love, to work or play. Tasks left undone must stay that way. I found that peace at the close of the day. If my parting has left a void, Then fill it with remembered joy. A friendship shared, a laugh, a kiss Ah, these things I, too, will miss. Be not burdened with time of sorrow, I wish for you the sunshine of tomorrow. My life’s been full, I savored much. Good friends, good times, a loved one touched. Perhaps my time seemed all too brief Don’t lengthen it now with undue grief. Lift up your heart and share with me. God wanted me now; he set me free.

Patricia Guajaca

April 28, 1929 - December 6, 2009