Geronima "Jerry" - Age 86 - Alcalde Montoya

Geronima "Jerry" Montoya, 86, a resident of Alcalde, NM, passed away peacefully surrounded by her loving family on April 20th, 2012, following a brief illness. Jerry, as she preferred to be known, was one of nine children born to Luis & Cleofes Salazar. Born in Alcalde on September 30, 1925. She lived the majority of her life in Alcalde. She along with her late husband Alfredo Montoya Sr, lived and worked in Portland, Oregon after WWII. She would later return to Alcalde where she worked at Santa Maria El Mirador for many years. She also worked in Santa Fe at the State Legislature and later for the Santa Fe Detention Center. Upon her retirement she became active with the Rio Arriba Senior Citizens Program and for nine (9) years worked with the Rio Arriba HELP Senior Companion Program until her sudden death. She was a lifelong member of the Confradia de Nuestro Padre Jesus Nazareno in Alcalde and an active member of the St. John the Baptist Church in Ohkay Owingeh. Jerry loved family gatherings and was especially attracted to her grandchildren and later her great grandchildren. She loved to play bingo and spend time with her friends. Her favorite pastime was reading her prayer books.\r\nJerry was preceded in death by her husband of 68 years, Alfredo P. Montoya; and her parents, Luis & Cleofes Salazar; her daughter, Patricia LaBadie; great-grandson Eliseo R. Salazar; brothers: Feliberto Lopez, Querino, Felipe, Benny and Wilfredo Salazar; sisters: Clorinda, Luisa and Agrepina, Marieita and Floripa.\r\nJerry is survived by her sons: Eliseo L. Montoya and wife Irene, Alfredo L. Montoya and wife Mae, and Gerald J. Montoya and wife Judy. She is also survived by her 18 grandchildren, 31 great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandchild. Sisters-in-law: Maxine Salazar, Rosa Sanchez, Margaret Montoya, Carlota Lovato; brothers-in-law: Cristobal Montoya (Norma), Feliberto Montoya (Eufelia), Tranquilino Montoya (Louise); and numerous godchildren.\r\nPublic visitation will be held on Monday April 23, 2012 at 6:30 p.m. at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Ohkay Owingeh Pueblo, with a rosary to be recited at 7:00 p.m. Mass of the Resurrection will be celebrated on Tuesday, April 24, 2012 at 10:00 a.m. also at St John the Baptist Catholic Church in Ohkay Owingeh. Burial will follow at the San Antonio Catholic Cemetery in Alcalde with the following grandchildren serving as pallbearers, Abram Montoya, Raul Garcia, Angelo LaBadie, Antonio Montoya, Gerald Montoya Jr., Mario Montoya, Diego Martinez Jr and Lucas Montoya. Honorary pallbearers are God daughter Helena Salazar, Aurelia Martinez, Randy Gurule, Henrietta Gaines, Celso Archuleta and all of Jerry’s Senior Companion colleagues, and staff and seniors of the Alcalde center of the Rio Arriba Senior Program.\r\nThe family of Jerry Montoya has entrusted the care of their beloved one to DeVargas Funeral Home & Crematory of the Española Valley. 505-747-7477

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