1948-2012

 Julia Vaughan, a resident of Los Lunas, passed away on February 20 after a long battle with illness.  Julia spent 15 years serving clients at Edward Jones Investments in Los Lunas and will be greatly missed by everyone whose life she touched.  She is survived by her husband of 30 years, Paul; children, Robert Bettes and wife Amy, Roxanne Vaughan and partner, Matthew Cleary; Roger Vaughan and wife, Loren, and Amanda Vaughan; grandchildren, Mason, William, and Corbin Bettes; father, Stewart Swacker, siblings Larry Swacker and wife, Jo, Carol Joe and husband, Eddy, and Virginia Leef and husband, Bobby and their families; along with her many in-laws, the Vaughans. Services will be held at Romero Funeral Home Chapel beginning with a Visitation at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, March 3 with a Memorial Service to follow at 11:00 a.m. Please come join the family to celebrate her life.

1938-2012

Juan Solis, age 73, passed away on Friday, February 17, 2012. No services are scheduled at this time. Romero Funeral Home, 609 N. Main St., Belen, NM.

Kenneth Eloy Romero, age 56, a resident of Irving, Texas, and formerly of Los Lunas, passed away on Friday, February 3, 2012.  Ken was preceded in death by his loving parents, Eloy and Helen Romero. Ken is survived by his wife, Celeste, of Irving, Texas; son, Ken Jr. and wife, Opal, of Forgan, Oklahoma; daughter, Joni Norris and husband, J. W., of Amarillo, Texas; four grandchildren, Brooklyn and Regan Romero, and Tres and Jace Norris.  He is also survived by his three sisters, Loretta, Rose and Victoria Romero, his nephews Gabriel, Carlos and Marcos Luna, all of Los Lunas, and many loving cousins. Ken was a graduate of Los Lunas High School, where he was an outstanding football player.  After high school Ken worked for the State of New Mexico as a Correctional Officer, and for the United States Postal Service, and later, Yellow Freight, which took him to live in Tucumcari, where his children were raised.  Ken’s job transferred to Irving, Texas, where he lived for the past 12 years.  Ken had recently retired from Yellow Freight, and was starting a new job with another trucking firm. Ken’s greatest joys in life were his family, especially his children and his grandchildren.  He enjoyed spending time with them and enjoyed their company, he was a dedicated and loving father, grandfather and brother, always watching out for and taking care of his family.  Ken was a loving and generous person and he was a good friend to many people, he will be deeply missed. All services will be held at the San Clemente Catholic Church in Los Lunas, beginning with a visitation on Thursday, February 23, at 6:30 p.m. with a rosary to be recited at 7:00 p.m.  A final visitation will be held at 9:30 a.m. on Friday, February 24, with a Memorial Mass at 10 a.m.  A reception will be held immediately following the services at the San Clemente Parish Center.  Honorary pallbearers will be Marcos, Carlos, Gabriel and, Paul T. Luna, Ray Sanchez, Art Montoya Jr. and Jesus Gonzales.

1936-2012

Betty Lou Tabet, age 76, a long time resident of Belen, NM passed away at her home on Sunday, February 19, 2012. Betty was preceded in death by her father, James T. Hadaway; mother, Laura Alice (Moody) Hadaway; father-in-law, Joe Tabet; sisters, Margaret Patterson and Charlene Sparks; brothers, Robert E. “Bob” Hadaway and James T. “Jake” Hadaway; brother-in-law, James Thad Patterson; son, Chris Tabet; granddaughter, Cayla Tabet and great-granddaughter, Trinity Sloan. Betty is survived by her loving husband of 49 years, Herman Tabet; mother-in-law, Lily Tabet; children, James “Jim” Sloan, Larry Tabet, Debbie Tabet and Jay Tabet; eight grandchildren, Laura Sloan, Jimmy Sloan, Edward Cubero, Clinton Tabet, Craig Tabet, Jason Sloan, Chelsea Tabet-Alasmar and Barbara Alissa Akin and seven great-grandchildren, Brandon Saul, Jacob Saul, Michael Vallejos, Bryanna Vallejos, Emma Sloan, Reaghen Kerlee and Haylee Sloan. She is also survived by many loving nieces and nephews. All services will be held at Our Lady of Belen Catholic Church on Thursday, February 23, beginning with a viewing at 9:00 a.m. with a Funeral Mass to be celebrated at 10:00 a.m. Interment will follow at Our Lady of Belen Memorial Gardens. Pallbearers will be Leroy Vallejos, Michael Sanchez, Lex Patterson, Gene Chavez, David Sparks and Robert Sparks. Honorary Pallbearers will be Josh Sanchez, Danell Griego, A.J. Smith, Elia Sanchez, Regina Sanchez, Lydia Montano and Georgia Kirkham. Our family would like to give a special thank you to Elia and Dr. Roland Sanchez and family.  Sign Betty’s online register book at www.romerofuneralhomenm.com. Romero Funeral Home, 609 N. Main St., Belen, NM.

1975-2012

Santana Lee Chavez, age 36, a resident of Los Lunas, passed away on Thursday, February 16, 2012. All services will be held at Romero Funeral Home Chapel on Tuesday, February 21, beginning with a visitation at 10:00 a.m. with a Funeral Service to be held at 10:30 a.m. Interment will be held at a later date. Sign Santana’s online register book at www.romerofuneralhomenm.com. Romero Funeral Home, 609 N. Main St., Belen, NM.

1930-2012

Maximina Pinela Estrada, age 81, a resident of Belen, passed away on Saturday, February 18, 2012. All services will be held at Our Lady of Belen Catholic Church on Monday, February 20, beginning with a viewing at 12:30 p.m. with a Funeral Mass to be celebrated at 1:00 p.m. Interment will be held at a later date. Sign Maximina’s online register book at www.romerofuneralhomenm.com. Romero Funeral Home, 609 N. Main St., Belen, NM.

1918-2012

Enriqueta Rosales, age 93, a resident of Los Lunas, passed away on Saturday, February 18, 2012. A viewing will be held at Romero Funeral Home Chapel on Monday, February 20, at 5:00 p.m. with a rosary to be recited at 6:00 p.m. A final visitation will be held at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church on Tuesday, February 21, at 10:00 a.m. with a Funeral Mass to be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. Interment will follow at the Tome Catholic Cemetery.

1930-2012

Deluvina “Della” Peralta, age 82, passed away peacefully on Friday, February 10 after a lengthy illness, one day after her 64^th wedding anniversary. She was a member of Our Lady of Belen Catholic Church. Della and her twin brother, Ismael were born to Conrado and Elisea Aragon of Riley, NM and later Magdalena, NM. She was raised in Atarque, NM by Abran and Terecita Garcia. Della married Placido Peralta in 1948 and later lived in Grants, NM. In 1964 they moved back to Magdalena, where they raised their four children, Vincent and wife, Cathy, James and wife, Liz, Josie Julian and husband, Juan and Martha Rose and husband, Terry. She was preceded in death by her parents, Conrado and Eliseo Aragon and Abran and Terecita Garcia; twin brother, Ismael; infant daughter, Viola; sister, Rosarita; and brothers, Jeronimo and Patricio. Della is survived by her loving husband, Placido; her four children and their spouses; two brothers, Frank Aragon and wife, Julie and Lawrence Aragon; sister, Ruth Baca and husband, Robert; 13 grandchildren; and 18 great-grandchildren. She is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews. All services will be held at St. Mary Magdalene Catholic Church in Magdalena, NM beginning with a visitation at 8:00 a.m. Tuesday, February 14 with a Rosary to be recited at 9:00 a.m. and a Funeral Mass to be celebrated at 10:00 a.m. Interment will follow at Santa Rita Catholic Cemetery. Sign Della’s online register book at www.romerofuneralhomenm.com. Romero Funeral Home, 609 N. Main St., Belen, NM.

1945-2012

Francisca Maria Jimenez Calderon, age 66, a resident of Veguita, NM passed away on Tuesday, February 7, 2012. Services were held at Romero Funeral Home Chapel on Friday, February 10^th. Sign Francisca’s online register book at www.romerofuneralhomenm.com. Romero Funeral Home, 609 N. Main St., Belen, NM.

1930-2012

 Edward Kubisak, age 81, passed away on Friday, February 3 at his home in Belen, N.M. He was born in Chicago Illinois and was the son of Edward and Helen Kubisak. Ed honorably served in the United States Air Force during the Koran Conflict. It was during this time that he met Roberta “Bobbi” Froehlich. They were married in 1955 and spent the next 54 years together until her passing in 2008. Ed and Bobbi moved to Aurora, Ill. where they had five children, Jeff of Los Lunas, N.M., Ken of Sandwich, Ill., Jim of Aurora, Ill., Kevin of Plano, Ill. and Debi Caldwell of Belen. Ed went to work for Caterpillar where he was the first Traffic Manager of their Aurora plant. The family moved to Bristol, Ill where they made their home for the next 25 years. When he wasn’t at work, Ed spent every minute with his family. He was a coach for the Bristol Pony League and the President of the Bristol Boys Baseball Association. Ed would always find time for anything with his children. He would always have a smile on his face and his humor was contagious. Every Christmas he would make sure that “Santa’s” visit was something special to look forward to. He was known throughout the neighborhood for his “Trick or Treat” visits and started many other traditions that the family looked forward to every year. Ed retired from Caterpillar in 1979 and moved with Bobbi to Albuquerque, N.M. After settling in Belen, N.M. they became involved in the Hot Air Ballooning Community. Ed earned his Hot Air Balloon Pilots Licenses and spent as many hours as he could in the air. He served as a Safety Official at the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta for many years. Through all the years he always had Bobbi by his side. The cruise they took together for their 50^th Anniversary was on of his favorite memories. Ed was a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Belen and had friends too numerous to even count and they along with his family will always remember the times they spent with him. He is survived by all five of his children; brother, Carl Kubisak of Dana Point, Calif.; sisters, Jean Kubisak of Eau Claire, Wis. and Paula Grant of Crown Point, Ind.; 16 grandchildren; and 6 great-grandchildren. A public viewing will be held on Wednesday, February 8 from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. at Romero Funeral Home Chapel. A Graveside service will be held on Thursday, February 9 at 1:00 p.m. at Terrace Grove Cemetery in Belen.  Ed will be laid to rest beside his loving wife. A reception will follow at the family home. The family request that donations be made to the Valencia Shelter Services, 303 Luna Avenue, Los Lunas, N.M. 87031.