Carmelita B. - age - 97 - Española Quintana de Naranjo

Carmelita B. Quintana de Naranjo, “La Flor del El Llano” and a longtime resident of the same community in Española, went peacefully to her Lord and Savior, surrounded by her loving family on Tuesday, September 23, 2014 in Albuquerque at the age of 97, following a short illness.\r\nShe was preceded in death by her husband of 41 years, Jose Carlos Naranjo, son, Don Carlos Naranjo; infant daughters, Ramoncita Bernarda Naranjo and Grace Naranjo; mother, Ramoncita Esquibel de Quintana and father, Jose Blas Quintana, brothers, Tomas, Theodoro, Antonio, Frederico and Santiago Quintana, sisters, Esquipula Quintana, Bersabe Q. Bustos and Susie Q. Maestas, grandsons, Michael, William and Joshua Naranjo, son-in-law, Colonel Raymon Massey, US Army Special Forces - A Team Commander and infant great-great- grandchildren, Alex, Matthew, Aaliyah, and Ravyn. She was also preceded in death by many, many other relatives too numerous to mention.\r\nCarmelita was born on July 16, 1917 in El Sitio, near Cuarteles and La Puebla to Ramoncita and Blas Quintana and was raised in those communities. Carmelita was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, great-great grandmother, sister, tia, prima, vecina and friend. She was a devout Catholic all her life. She learned many of the “Alabados” that her husband, Jose Carlos, an Hermano Penitente with La Cofradia de Nuestro Padre Jesus Nazareno de Santa Cruz, would practice late at night or early morning, when everyone was asleep. She still knew many, like the “Salve” until her passing. Many times she walked with her children in tow to La Iglesia de Santa Cruz for mass, when husband Jose Carlos was at the shipyards in Oakland, California during WWII or at other jobs.\r\n She would pray every night before she went to sleep and when she woke up in the morning. She believed with all her heart in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and lived her life adhering to his teachings and scripture. When there was something that seemingly nothing could be done about it, she would simply say, “Amen.”\r\nShe was a great “cocinera” -- she had to be with 12 children and a husband! She would make “un alto” de tortillas that would be gone by the end of lunch or dinner! She would make delicious lunches complete with a home-made dessert for husband, Jose Carlos, and all the crew digging the lateral ditch from “La Acquia Madre de El Llano” to their ranchito.\r\nCarmelita was a self-proclaimed ”medica” who was a self-taught expert on New Mexico remedios and had many people seek her out for her knowledge of the herbs of New Mexico and their uses, like manstranso, immortal, poleo, yerba buena, osha, just to name a few.\r\nShe did a lot of “empacando” or canning food from the garden, orchards and livestock the family raised with help from her daughters and Tia Maria Romero Manzanares. She would make her own “quiltas” and “colchones” when times were tough and money was scarce in the Española Valley. Trading ristras de chile for “compras” at “La Tienda del Bon” in downtown Española was an annual project for her family.\r\nShe loved to dance and accompanied her “musico” husband, Jose Carlos, who played drums for “Cippie Padilla and the Melody Kings” to most of the weddings, dances and celebrations “donde tocaba el.” When they were newly married, they made a pact that lasted a lifetime: Jose Carlos would remain being a “musico” and she would continue dancing. A pact that lasted 41 years until his death in 1977.\r\nCarmelita is survived by her four sons, Mike Naranjo and wife Juvela, Sammy Naranjo, Lawrence Naranjo and Louise, and Robert Naranjo and Jeanette; seven daughters, Sophie N. Garcia and Randy, Clara Romero and Solomon; daughter-in-law, Pauline Vigil Naranjo, Connie Espinoza and husband Ronald, Elsie Griego and husband Manuel Antonio, Carmen Martinez and husband Adan, Elizabeth Ortiz and husband James; and Ramoncita N. Massey. She is also survived by over 100 grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great grandchildren and many more relatives and friends. \r\nA “rosario” for Carmelita B. Quintana de Naranjo will be held Thursday, September 25, 2014 at 7:00 pm at La Iglesia de Santa Cruz de La Canada. Mass of Christian Burial and celebration of her life will be held on Friday, September 26, 2014 at 11:00 a.m. also at La Iglesia de Santa Cruz de La Canada, with burial to follow at the Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery with the following serving the family as pallbearers are her hijados: Ricky Romero, Donald Naranjo, Christopher Martinez and Magin Romero. Also serving are: Ray Griego, Randy Garcia and Carlos Espinoza. All family, relatives, neighbors and friends are encouraged and invited to attend.\r\nReaders at Mass: Lisa Ortiz, Monica Naranjo, and Rosita Griego. Eulogy by Robert A. Naranjo. Honorary pallbearers named are all her grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren. The family of Carmelita B. Quintana de Naranjo has entrusted their beloved Carmelita to the staff of the DeVargas Funeral Home & Crematory of the Española Valley.

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