Rafael Candelaria

July 11, 1934 - July 19, 2020

1934-2020 Rafael Candelaria, age 86, a resident of Valencia/Los Lunas, NM, passed away peacefully on July 19, 2020, with his family by his side. He was a member of Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church in Peralta, NM and also enjoyed going to mass with Father Francisco at San Juan Mission Church in Meadow Lake. Rafael will be remembered as an avid outdoorsman who enjoyed deer hunting with his 3 sons. He was a smart and creative craftsman who loved welding and mechanics. Rafael was known by many as a person who could do just about anything. As a man who always put his family first and foremost, he taught them how to live life feeling limitless, how to be a good person and built a great family. He has left his mark on the world and now he can rest peacefully with the love of his life, his wife and our beautiful mother, Beatrice. He is preceded in death by his loving wife of 60 years, Beatrice Rael Candelaria; parents, Gregorio and Rosalia Candelaria; brothers, Manuel, Leo and Herman; sister, Lucy Chavez. Rafael is survived by his 4 daughters, Lorenza, MaryAlice, Rafaelita and Debra; his 3 sons, Robert (Lora), Gregory Martin (Monique); 10 granddaughters, Felicha (Adam), Leticia, Jessica, Sarah, Angelica (Jack), Jaclyn, Victoria (Ryan), Rachel, NayaMarie and Kylie; 4 grandsons, Christopher, Jason (Andrea), Daniel, Martin Jr; 8 great-grandchildren and 9 grandchildren from the extended family. He is also survived by one sister, Aurelia Chavez; one brother-in-law, Francisco Rael (MaryJane), sister-in-law, Margaret Garcia. Services will take place on Thursday, July 23, 2020, at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church beginning with a Public Viewing at 9:00 AM, a Rosary to be recited at 10:00 AM, a Funeral Mass at 10:30 AM. Interment will take place at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Cemetery at a later date. Pallbearers will be Gregory Candelaria, Martin Candelaria, Christopher Birdsong, Jason Garcia, Daniel Birdsong and Martin Candelaria Jr. The family would like to thank Ambercare Hospice and their staff for the wonderful care and support they provided to our father and family. Please sign Rafael’s online tribute at www.romerofuneralhomenm.com Romero Funeral Home, 609 N. Main St., Belen, NM