Arturo "Papa" A. - age - 93 - Nambe Romero

Arturo “Papa” A. Romero, 93, a founding and 30-year member of the Pojoaque Valley Volunteer Fire Department, died peacefully at his home in Nambe on Saturday, April 19, 2014. He was 93. A lifelong resident of Nambe, Arturo was a member of the council that established the Sagrado Corazon de Jesus parish in Nambe, a crew chief hot shot firefighter who fought wildfires in the southern and southwestern United States, a member of the Civil Conservation Corps, and a longtime mayordomo of the Acequia del Llano. In 1990, he was recognized by President George H. W. Bush for his many years of community service. He enjoyed the outdoors, dancing, carpentry, playing cards, dining out, weekly trips to the casino, traveling, and spending time with his family. He was a loving husband of 70 years, father, and grandfather. He was preceded in death by his wife, Mary Romero; parents, Vidal and Ramona Romero; brothers: Martiniano, Petronilo, Ramon and Bernardo Romero; sisters: Maria Gomez, Eleuteria Ortiz, Genoveva Garduno and Liria Romero. Mr. Romero is survived by his daughters, Sheila Vigil and husband Raymond, Cleo Romero and fiancé Lowell Gilbert; grandchildren, Jamie Jordan and husband Tom, Kamie Harmer and partner Dickie Fielder, Ray Vigil and wife Jana, Jody Namoca and husband Royce, Chris Romero and wife Amy; great-grandchildren, Anna Jordan, Katy Sjaardema and husband Michael, Josh Johnson, Rei Leigh Harmer, Becca Harmer and partner Brian Howard, Jesse Vigil, Alexandria Vigil, Kendall Heinold, Jaxson Heinold, Jeremy Namoca, and William Romero; great-great grandchildren, Gavin Howard and Summer Sjaardema; sister, Teresita Sandoval; and brothers-in-law, Toby Ortiz and wife Sinfie and Joe Lujan and many other relatives and friends. Public visitation will begin on Monday, April 28, 2014 from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the Sagrado Corazon de Jesus Church in Nambe with a rosary to immediately follow. A memorial mass will be celebrated on Tuesday, April 29, 2014 at 11:00 a.m. also at Sagrado Corazon de Jesus Church in Nambe. Burial to follow at the Sagrado Corazon de Jesus Cemetery. The family of Arturo “Papa” A. Romero has entrusted the care of their loved one to the DeVargas Funeral Home & Crematory of the Espanola Valley.

---