Ernestina Sanchez

Ernestina (Ernie) Sanchez, 84, resident of Tierra Amarilla, NM, passed away peacefully surrounded by her immediate family on July 17, 2024. 

Ernie was born to the late Tomas and Rafelita Garcia on August 13, 1939, in Canjilon, NM. Ernie was a tough hardworking woman. She entered the workforce as a key punch operator for Levi Strauss in California. Ernie also worked at the sawmill in Chama for 5 years. She waitressed at Foster’s where people enjoyed her famous hot salsa. Later she was the bartender at Foster’s even though she’d never bartended before. People would come and ask her for drinks, and she’d have to ask them how to make it. She had fun working at Foster’s. She also worked at Henry’s, and she had so much fun meeting new people. In 1972, she met her devoted husband, Toby. They met at a dance at Ben’s Lounge, and then Toby would go to the Elk Horn Café where she worked as a waitress to eat and see Ernie. They married in Golden, CO, in October 1974, then moved to Idaho Springs where Toby was employed as a miner. When Toby worked in the Colorado mines during the winter, Ernie would stay at the ranch and feed the cows and break the ice. She was resilient and did everything she could for her family.

Ernie was an entrepreneur too. She owned a thrift store in Cebolla, bought and sold pewter jewelry boxes, bolo ties, and macarena monkeys. Ernie loved buying and selling things, and she loved negotiating. If she saw a yard sale sign, she’d try to stop. She’d drag Molly to yard sales and thrift stores and stay for hours! With a little help from her sister, Lala, Ernie taught herself how to quilt. She made beautiful quilts, and for the family reunion auctions, her quilts would be the highest bid items. Ernie also liked to make jelly and pastel. For Christmas each family would get a delicious pastel. Everyone looked forward to her famous pastel. After retiring, Ernie signed up for an Adoration hour at church on Friday mornings. She loved her special time with the Lord. If it was snowing, she’d have Toby take her and pick her up an hour later. Ernie’s faith was the center of her life and marriage. She never worried about things and instead would pray about everything. She would say, “Just be happy. As long as you have your health, you have everything.” Ernie was a Garcia so of course she loved to gamble! Gambling is part of the Garcia family legacy, and Ernie brought Toby into the fold. Toby and Ernie loved going to Espanola to the casino. It was a fun treat for them each week. Ernie was a loving wife, mother, mother-in-law, sister, grandmother, aunt, and friend. She will be missed by all who knew her.

Ernie was preceded in death by her parents, father and mother-in-law Medardo and Emilia Sanchez, her sisters Levie Flores, Lala Martinez (husband Joe B), Alice Nuno (husband Joe), her brothers Ross Garcia, David Garcia, and Mike Garcia (wife Sylvia), her sisters in law Tere Clark, Esther Sanchez, Clorinda Sanchez, and Lily Garcia and brother-in-law Henry Ulibarri. Ernie is survived by her loving husband of 50 years Tobias Sanchez, sons Michael (Maria) and Anthony (Elizabeth) Martinez and daughter Amalia (Curtis) Julian, her sister Elena (Lonz) Barela and brother Tomasito Garcia, sisters-in-law Mabel Ulibarri, Juanita (Eloy) Olivas, Luz Garcia, brothers-in-law Mike (Cleo) Sanchez, Medardo Sanchez, Robert Sanchez, and Delroy Clark, grandsons David, AJ, and Michael Martinez and Evan Julian and granddaughters LaLonnie (Jonathon) Gray and Natalie Julian, and great-grandson Hudson Gray. 

A Rosary will be recited at DeVargas Funeral Home in Espanola, NM on Thursday, July 25, 2024, at 6:00 p.m. A Rosary will be recited on Friday, July 26, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Chama, NM, and a Funeral Mass will be celebrated immediately after at 11:00 a.m. Burial following the Mass will be at the Chama Cemetery in Chama, NM.

The family of Ernestina Sanchez has entrusted the care of their loved one to DeVargas Funeral Home & Crematory of the beautiful Espanola Valley. www.devargasfuneral.com 505-747-7477