Dora B. Romero

1917-2013 Dora B. Romero, age 95, born on November 9, 1917, a resident of Los Lunas, New Mexico, passed away on October 15, 2013, in Albuquerque, NM. She was a member of the U.S. Women’s Auxiliary Army Corps in World War II; a sponsor of the Women in Military Service for the America Memorial Foundation; honored at the Women’s Memorial in Arlington, VA; and an elementary school teacher for 36 years in Cañones in Jemez Canyon, the Town of Bernalillo, and Albuquerque. Dora lived her youth on a small ranch in Cañones, New Mexico just north of Jemez Pueblo. As a child, she loved riding horses and attending the ceremonies at the pueblo with her father, Manuel C’ de Baca of the old New Mexico Cabeza de Baca family. She finished her public school at Albuquerque High School where she lettered in basketball. She loved sports and learning about the world. Her high school principal encouraged her to attend UNM and she graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Education. She taught in many rural locations such as Cañones, Corrales, and then Douglas MacArthur Elementary in the Albuquerque North Valley. Over the years, she would meet many of her students who approached her with their familiar question: “Do you remember me, Mrs. Romero?” Of course, she always remembered them all. She was a strong advocate of bilingual education back when many didn’t know what the term meant. She believed in a passionate purpose in life, hard work, focus, persistence, ideas and imagination, developing effective skills, self-discipline and motivation, and service to others. She attended night classes to obtain her Master’s Degree in Education. She always encouraged her students, peers, family, and everyone around her to do their best and obtain an excellent education. Just after World War II ended, she met her husband Boleslo M. Romero, who flew 28 missions with the Fifteenth Air Force. Together they raised their two sons, Boleslo A. Romero and Albert J. Romero, both engineers. Dora was a humble and compassionate woman of strong values, high principles, and high purpose. It is difficult to comprehend the enormous, positive impact that just one person can have on another person. Dora had that compassionate and powerful positive impact on the many generations of children she taught for so many years. People like her will always be needed and sorely missed when they leave. She WAS preceded in death by her father, Manuel C’ de Baca of Cañones; her mother, Mary C’ de Baca; her sister, Emma Debaca; her brothers, Michael (Mitchell), Mike (Mikito), and Manuel Debaca Jr. (Junior); her half-brothers, Joe, Isaac, and Willy Debaca; her brothers-in-law, Andres Romero and Gene Romero; and her very good friend, Randy Castillo. Dora is survived by her husband of 67 years, Boleslo M. Romero; her two sons, Boleslo A. Romero and his wife, Katherine; Albert J. Romero and his wife, Anne; her three grandsons, Boleslo E. Romero and his partner, Tamara Bray; Lt. Matthew Romero, U.S. Army and his wife, Sarah and their son, Landon; Tech. Sgt. Ross Romero, US Air Force Reserve and his fiancée, Sarah Plunk; her brother, Dan Debaca and his wife, Stella; her sisters-in-law, Minerva Romero and Soveida Gonzales; her half-sister, Senaida Apodaca; her cousin, Adenago Perea; and her very good friends and companions, Cecilia Castillo of Los Lunas, Charles Chavez and his wife, Lucy of Los Lunas, Silvia Aragon and her husband, Fidel of Los Lunas. She was an aunt, great-aunt and great-great aunt to numerous nephews and nieces whom she adored and loved. All services will be held at San Clemente Catholic Church, on Monday, October 21, beginning with a Viewing at 9:00 a.m. with a Rosary to be recited at 10:00 a.m. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at10:30 a.m. Interment will follow at San Clemente Catholic Cemetery. Sign Dora’s online tribute at www.romerofuneralhomenm.com Romero Funeral Home, 609 N. Main St., Belen, NM A Poem for Dora She was our guide. She was our balm. She was our light on a cold winter’s night. Her Spirit roars. The memories fade. We can hear the roar. We can feel the warmth of the thousand fragrant moons of her past. We can see the delight of her youth at play.

Dora B. Romero

November 9, 1917 - October 15, 2013