Tonya Barela

A vigil rosary for Tonya Kay Barela, 43, is scheduled for Sunday, March 13, 2011 at 7:00 pm at Assumption Catholic Church, 2808 North Kentucky, Roswell, New Mexico. A funeral mass will be held on Monday, March 14, 2011, at 12:10 pm at Assumption Catholic Church with Father Bill McCann officiating, then proceeding to South Park Cemetery for the burial. Tonya went to meet her maker on March 10, 2011. Tonya, along with her twin sister Sonya Renee Bishop who preceded her in death, was born in Portales, New Mexico on April 18, 1967 to Irene Garcia and Jimmie Bishop Sr. Tonya graduated from Roswell High School in 1985. On Oct 18, 1986, Tonya married Greg Barela who survives her. Tonya is survived by her husband, son Stephen Gregory Barela, daughter Kristian Nicole Chavira and Husband Jose Sr., grandson Jose Ricardo Jr., and granddaughter Amari Marie. Tonya enjoyed spending as much time as she could with her children and grand children who she loved more than the world itself. Tonya was known to her grandchildren as "Mima", and will be missed greatly by them. Tonya’s greatest joy in her life was her daughter and son. She lovingly referred to her daughter as Monkey and her son as Sugar Bear. She was extremely proud of both of them. Tonya is also survived by her mother, Irene Gallegos, brother, Jimmy Bishop Jr, sister, Jimmie Lou Garcia and husband Tomas, sister Tammy Mendiola and husband Danny, sister Linda Barreras, all of Roswell, sister Karen Gallegos of Albq, NM and sister Susan Locke of Alamagordo, NM, mother-in-law, Lucy Barela and husband Cruz Sr, sister-in-law Corina Gonzales and husband Johnny Ray, all of Roswell, NM. sister-n-law Debbie Escobar and husband Daniel and brother-in-law Cruz Jr., both from Bakersfield California. Tonya was preceded in death by twin sister Sonya Renee Bishop, father Jimmy Bishop Sr., step-father Chris Gallegos, grandmother Lola Molina, and grandfather Jose M Garcia. Tonya worked for Eastern New Mexico Medical Center and the Chaves County Financial Office for many years. She had a passion for everything that she did. She loved working outdoors and figuring out her dream house by looking through her piles of magazines. Pallbearers will be her nieces and nephews, John Garcia, Gabriel Mendiola, Diana Garcia, Daniel "Baby Dan" Mendiola, Andrew "Nano" Barreras, Anthony Barreras, Adam Barreras, and Calvin Barreras. Honorary Pallbearers will be all her nephews, nieces, great-nephews and great-nieces. Tonya loved her nieces and nephews with all her heart. Tonya also valued the time she was able to spend with her friends. Tonya will be greatly missed by all who knew her. "Tonya (Mom), We Love you forever, We like you for always, as long as we're living, our love you'll have, and in our memory you will be." Please take a moment to share your thoughts and memories with the family in the online register book at andersonbethany.com. Arrangements are being handled by Anderson Bethany Funeral Home and Crematory.

Tonya Barela

April 18, 1967 - March 10, 2011