Elidia Bezzeg

1920-2014 Elidia Sanchez Bezzeg, age 93, a resident of Belen, NM peacefully passed away on Sunday, January 5, 2014. Elidia was born to the late Abelicio and Espiridiana Garcia Sanchez. She grew up with her loving sisters, Clara Krause and Priscilla Sanchez. The sisters lost their mother when they were very young and a strong bond developed between them; they always enjoyed their time together. She was the beloved wife of Emery P. Bezzeg. Elidia and Emery shared nearly fifty years together until his death in July 1996. They met in Hawthorne, Nevada, while, after surviving Pearl Harbor, he was on leave from the Navy. At the same time, Elidia, along with her sister Clara traveled to Hawthorne to help their sister Priscilla with her second baby, Regina Sanchez Elkins. Regina has always been given the distinction of being cupid. Emery who was from Fairport Harbor, Ohio, embraced New Mexico and all of Elidia’s relatives. Elidia went to Michigan as a young adult to study to become a nun. She had a desire to take care of orphans. She never got the opportunity to care for orphans because teachers were needed at the time and her supervisor sent her to college instead of an orphanage. She completed two years of college in Michigan; however, before she took her final vows she decided she did not have a vocation to become a nun. After raising five children with Emery, she began to work as a substitute teacher. She taught at St. Mary’s School in Belen and went on to get her teaching degree in her late forties. She subsequently went on to teach 5th grade social studies and history at Central Elementary School until her retirement. She enjoyed her years teaching and enjoyed working with all her colleagues. Her love of family and history and her curiosity led her to work on the family genealogy. “Mom: Pasa buenas noches patitas de guangoches.” Translation: Have a good night little gunny-sacked feet. She was preceded in death by her loving husband of nearly 50 years, Emery P. Bezzeg; parents, Abelicio and Espiridiana Garcia Sanchez; sister, Selcita Sanchez; brother, David Sanchez; sister, Priscilla Sanchez and husband, Magistrate Gil Sanchez; half-brother, Abe Sanchez; and brother-in-law, George Krause. Elidia is survived by her five loving children oldest to youngest, John Bezzeg and wife, Laura, Gerard Bezzeg and wife, Emilie, Mary E. Chavez and husband, Chris, Gene Bezzeg and companion, Frances Harris, who Elidia considered to be her daughter-in-law and Therese Sanchez and husband, Fred; sister, Clara Krause; four half siblings, Mariano, Julia, Robert, and Sally; seventeen grandchildren; several great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandchild as well as many wonderful nieces and nephews. All services will be held at Our Lady of Belen Catholic Church on Friday, January 10, beginning with a Viewing at 9:00 a.m. with a Funeral Mass to be celebrated at 10:00 a.m. Interment will be held at the Santa Fe National Cemetery on Monday, January 13, at 12:45 p.m. The family would like to extend a special thanks to Sol Amor Hospice for their expert care and their brother Gene and companion Fran, who lovingly took care of her for many years.

Elidia Bezzeg

September 20, 1920 - January 5, 2014