Denise - age 49 - Española Valerio

\r\nDENISE VALERIO, 49, a lifelong resident of Española, passed away on Wednesday, March 19, 2014 following a lengthy illness. She was preceded in death by her father, Samuel Valerio; mother, Ernestine Martinez; sisters, Francine and Geraldine Valerio and brother, Juanito Valerio. Brother-in-law, Fred Lopez. Denise was a special education teacher for the Española School District. She loved her students whom she was very close to. She was also a girls’ basketball coach for Mountain View and Chimayo Elementary Schools. She was a lifeguard at the Lucero Center Swimming Pool. She will be dearly missed by all who knew her. Ms. Valerio is survived by her sister, Suzanne Ortega and husband Johnny of Española; brother, Stevie Valerio of Arizona; niece that was like a sister, Shanda Valerio of Española; special nephews, Mario Valerio and wife Jamie of Velarde and Francisco Ortega and wife Marisela of Española; nieces and nephews, Francina, Mario and Tilo Valerio, Fabian Lopez and Erik Ortega; close uncle, Harpy Maestas and wife Teresa of Santa Fe; God-mother/aunt, Flora Perea and husband Manuel of Belen and numerous other relatives and friends. A rosary will be recited on Thursday, March 27, 2014 at 7:00 p.m. at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Ohkay Owingeh. Memorial mass will be celebrated on Friday, March 28, 2014 at 11:00 a.m. at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Española, burial will follow at Sacred Heart Catholic Cemetery. The family of Denise Valerio has entrusted their loved one to DeVargas Funeral Home & Crematory of the Española Valley. \r\n \r\n

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