Diego - Age 12 - Santa Fe - Salazar -

DIEGO E. SALAZAR, 12, a resident of Santa Fe, passed away unexpectedly on Thursday, December 26, 2013. He was preceded in death by his father, Michael Montoya; uncles, Ronnie and Harry Herrera, Michael Harvier, and Ezekiel Salazar; grandfather, Rafael Salazar; grandmothers, Beatrice Salazar and Julie Salazar and many loved ones. Diego loved playing baseball, basketball, the outdoors and was an avid fisherman. He had passion for cooking and was a gifted artist and writer. He was very intelligent beyond his years. He was the best big brother who loved his little brother so much and his family. He was currently a student at Gonzales Community School in Santa Fe. Diego is survived by his mother, Stephanie Salazar of Santa Fe; brother, Ronnie Ray Montoya; close like a second mom, Jolene Anaya all of Santa Fe; grandmother, Lila Herrera and husband Phil Romero of Española; grandfather, Ralph Salazar and companion Annette Gallegos of El Llano; great-grandparents, Deacon Diego Herrera and wife Edith; grandparents, Nannydoo and Granddad Jodi; aunt, Jenna; uncles and aunts, Tammie, Rafael, Gabriel and Miguel Salazar; close cousins, Raquel, Michaela and Mikey; uncle/nino, Steve Herrera and wife Valerie all of Española; aunt, Corinne Duran and husband Daniel of Arizona and their children, Isaiah, Ryan and Donovan and numerous other relatives and many friends. Public visitation will begin on Sunday, December 29, 2013 at 5:30 p.m. in the Sangre de Cristo Chapel of DeVargas Funeral Home & Crematory with a rosary to be recited at 6:00 p.m. Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated on Monday, December 30, 2013 at 10:30 a.m. at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Española. Burial to follow at the Sacred Heart Catholic Cemetery with the following serving as pallbearers, Rafael and Gabriel Salazar, Marcus Ortiz and Jesus Ramirez. Honorary pallbearers named are his God-parents, Alicia Castillo and Steve Herrera. The family of Diego E. Salazar has entrusted their loved one to DeVargas Funeral Home & Crematory of the Española Valley.

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