Castelita Valdez

Castelita Valdez (Apodaca), 75, passed away peacefully at her home Sunday, December 31, 2018 with her husband by her side, following a lengthy battle with cancer. Castelita was preceded in death by her son, Benny J Valdez; her parents, Willie and Eliza Apodaca; her in-laws, Jose Inez and Esquipula Valdez; Brother and sister in-laws, Flaviano and Celia Herrera, Teofilo and Ruperta Lopez, Emiterio Vigil, and George Fernandez;  nephews,  Ernie and Gerard Vigil. Castelita is survived by her husband and high school sweetheart of 57 years, Bernardino; Sons, Jose (fiancé Leslie), Gilbert (Patsy), Esquipula James (wife Viola), Mario (Virginia); daughters in law, Lisa Chavez and Debbie Valdez; Grandchildren, James (Mellisa), Maria, Benny, Gilbert Jr, Andrew, Robert, Tammy, Jessica, and Santiago; Siblings, Tony and Isabel Dominguez, Gloria and Steve Lamaroux, Benjamin and Angie Apodaca, Yolanda and Antonio Perez, and Patricia Apodaca; In-laws Amelia Vigil, Elma and Merejuildo Ortega, Marina, and Roque Martinez. Castelita had a special spot in her heart for Sandra Dominguez and Lillian Martinez and all her cousins, nieces, nephews, compadres, friends and acquaintances. Public visitation will begin on Sunday, January 7, 2018 at 5:00 p.m. at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Nambe with a rosary to be recited at 6:00 p.m.  Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated on Monday, January 8, 2018 at 10:00 a.m. also at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Nambe with burial to follow at the Nambe Catholic Cemetery. Serving the family as pallbearers are James Jr Valdez, Benny Valdez, Gilbert Jr Valdez, Santiago Valdez, Rudy Fernandez, Antonio Perez, and Maria and Jessica Valdez serving as honorary pallbearers. The family of Castelita Valdez has entrusted the care of their loved one to the DeVargas Funeral Home & Crematory of the Española Valley.