Maria A. Marquez

Maria Anunsacion Marquez, age 87, has joined our Lord Savior in the early morning of Sunday, March 20.˜ She was a free spirited, loving wife, sister, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and great-great-grandmother. Maria never met anyone she did not love. She was born and raised in Casa Colorada, N.M. and later moved to Belen, N.M.˜ Maria was a devout parishioner of Our Lady of Belen Catholic Church until she moved in 1986 to Hobbs N.M. to be with her youngest daughter, Cora and family. ˜There she lived for 14 years until their return to Belen in 2000. Upon her return to Belen, Maria started attending the Belen Senior Citizen Center where she spread her joy and exuberance of life to all she met. Maria loved to participate in all senior center activities, including halloween contests, dances, and bingos. Maria was also the first recipient of the adopt a senior program where she was adopted for an entire year. She also was elected as the senior citizen center Valentines Day Queen, which she accepted with such pride and exuberance. Anyone who was lucky enough to have met her knew they were touched by an Angel. She was never without a smile, even to the very end. She was loved by many and will be missed by all.˜ She was preceded in death by her loving husband, Juan Jose Marquez; two sons, Jose Ricardo Marquez and Joseph Steven Marquez; one daughter, Lydia Allen Purcell and her loving sister, Elvira Vallejos. Maria leaves behind five sons, Jose Florentino Marquez of Belen, Robert Marquez and wife, Mary of Casper, Wyo., Eloy Marquez and wife, Lena of Albuquerque, N.M., Isidro Marquez and wife, Rosemary of Belen and Abel Marquez of Espanola, N.M.; three daughters, Janet Blackwell of Calif., Lucy Prater and husband, Bruce of Belen and Cora Marquez of Gila, N.M.; many loving nieces and nephews from Calif.; her special Godson, Martin Marquez.˜ She also leaves behind 24 grandchildren; forty nine great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren. A viewing will be held at Romero Funeral Home Chapel, at 5:30 p.m., on Sunday, March 27 with a rosary to be recited at 6:00 p.m.˜ A final visitation will be held at Our Lady of Belen Catholic Church, at 9:30 a.m., on Monday, March 28 with a Funeral Mass to be celebrated at 10:00 a.m.˜ Interment will follow at the Santa Fe National Cemetery at 2:15 p.m.˜ Sign Maria’s online register book at www.romerofuneralhomenm.com. Romero Funeral Home, 609 N. Main St., Belen, NM.

Maria A. Marquez

March 22, 2011