Bernardino "Benny" J. - Age 41 - Na Valdez

BERNARDINO “BENNY” J. VALDEZ, \r\n41, a resident of Nambe, passed away unexpectedly on Sunday, April 11, 2010. He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Jose and Esquipula Valdez and Willie and Eliza Apodaca; aunt, Celia Herrera; uncles, Emiterio Vigil and Teofilo Lopez; cousins, Gerard Vigil, Stephanie, Manuelita and Vanessa Herrera. He attended the Pojoaque Valley Schools and worked for the Los Alamos Schools and was an artist. He enjoyed cruising, camping, fishing with his family, playing his guitar and teaching his cousins to play. Mr. Valdez is survived by his girlfriend of 21 years, Lisa Chavez; daughter, Jessica K. Valdez; son, Santiago N. Valdez; parents, Ben and Castelita Valdez; brothers, Jose I. Valdez (Andrea), Gilbert Valdez (Patsy), Esquipula J. Valdez and wife, Viola, Mario Valdez (Virginia); nephews and nieces, James and wife MaryAnne, Benny, Gilbert, Robert, Andrew, Maria Valdez and Tammy Salinas; grand nephews, Cruzito and Santos Valdez, John John and Contessa Salinas; sister-in-law, Debbie Valdez; mother-in-law, Francis Benitez; brothers-in-law, Tim Chavez (Rhonda), Raul Gutierrez, Emilio Benitez Jr. and numerous other relatives and friends. Public visitation will begin on Thursday, April 15, 2010 at 6:00 p.m. at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Nambe with a rosary to be recited at 7:00 p.m. Mass of Christian burial to be celebrated on Friday, April 16, 2010 at 10:00 a.m. also at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Nambe. Burial to follow at the Nambe Catholic Cemetery with the following serving as pallbearers, James, Benny and Gilbert Valdez, Emit Vigil, Vianes Valdez, Kenny Roybal, Aniver Roybal and Ross Gomez. Honorary pallbearers named are all his cousins and friends. The Valdez family has entrusted their loved one to DeVargas Funeral Home & Crematory of the Española Valley. 505-747-7477 or www.devargasfuneral.com

---