Dionicia (Donna) Valdez

Dionicia (Donna) Valdez, 62, a resident of El Rito, passed away peacefully following a lengthy battle with cancer on Friday, December 21, 2018 at home, with her daughters at her bedside. Donna was preceded in death by her daughter, Michelle Faith Valdez; father, Salomon Archuleta; brother, Michael Lucero, and niece Karen Camille Bustamante. Donna was born in Española on September 27, 1956. She was raised in El Rito, where she later became an elementary school teacher and librarian. She was a devoted and loving wife, mother, grandmother, daughter, sister, and teacher. Donna was a remarkable woman to all that knew her. Despite her petite stature, her strength and faith in God allowed her to remain as the matriarch of her family. Her endless love and forgiving nature inspired many that knew her. Mrs. Valdez is survived by her husband of 44 years, Michael Valdez; daughters, Sarah and Martina Valdez; grandchildren, Mateo, Damian, Tomas, Arianna, and Ava; mother, Veroniz Archuleta; siblings, Robert Archuleta, Bernie Archuleta, Pauline (Paul) Ortiz, Randy Archuleta, and Melissa (Oscar) Coronado and numerous nephews and nieces and other relatives and friends. Public visitation will begin on Friday, December 28, 2018 at 6:30 p.m. in the Chapel of Peace of DeVargas Funeral Home & Crematory with a rosary to be recited at 7:00 p.m. Memorial Mass will be celebrated on Saturday, December 29, 2018 at 11:00 a.m. at the San Juan Nepomuceno Catholic Church in El Rito. Burial to follow at the old El Rito Cemetery. The family would like to give special thanks to the staff at Pacifica Senior Living Santa Fe and Ambercare for their loving and compassionate care. The family of Dionicia (Donna) Valdez has entrusted the care of their loved one to DeVargas Funeral Home & Crematory of the Española Valley.