Epimenia Lovato

Epimenia C. Lovato, 89, a resident of Espanola, passed away peacefully on Friday, June 21, 2019 after a short illness.  She was preceded in death by her parents and her siblings, Victoria, Rosa, Pablita, Carmel, and Maria; and her eldest son Ernesto Lovato and wife Helen.  She was known to everyone as Pepper and was a devout catholic and loving mother, grandmother, and friend who will always be remembered for her kindness and warm smile.  Epimenia was born on July 1, 1929 to Ignacio and Lauriana Lovato in Capulin, NM.  She was the fifth of seven children and loved her large family.  But her pride and joy were her two sons, Ernesto and Albert.   Pepper was a bartender at Johnny’s in Espanola for 35 years.  Upon retiring she became a Foster Grandparent and worked with first graders at Sombrillo Elementary for over 10 years.    Pepper is survived by her son Albert and wife Rosalie of Espanola, her granddaughter Kathy and husband Matthew Casados of Espanola and their children, grandson Alvin Lovato and his children, and granddaughter Alisha Lovato.  She is also survived by her brother Reynaldo Lovato and wife Victoria of Gallina, and many beloved nieces and nephews.  A rosary will be recited at 9:00 am on Friday, June 28, 2019 at La Iglesia de Santa Cruz de la Canada, with a Mass of Christian burial to be celebrated at 10:00 am.  Burial will be held at Holy Cross Cemetery, with the following serving as pallbearers her grandchildren Alvin and Alisha Lovato, and great-grandsons Adan E. Casados, Joshua Lovato, Carl Naranjo, and Jeremy Lovato.  Honorary pallbearers will be great-granddaughters Veronica Casados, Ashlyn Lovato, Clarissa Lovato, and Hayven Lovato.  The family would like to thank Dolores Lucero, Senior Companion and Minnie Martinez, her trusted hairdresser, for their years of friendship during her golden years.  Our heartfelt gratitude also goes to the staff at Sombrillo Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Los Alamos.  They lovingly cared for Grandma Pepper as a member of their own family for the past eight months.  The family of Epimenia C. Lovato has entrusted the care of their loved one to DeVargas Funeral & Crematory of the Espanola Valley.