Gilbert
Gilbert Borrego
d. November 1, 2017
Gilbert A. Borrego passed away peacefully on Wednesday, November 1st, 2017, at the age of 86 years after a battle with cancer. He was a loving husband, father, brother, uncle, grandfather, great-grandfather and friend.
He was born on August 28, 1931, in Santa Cruz, NM. He graduated from Santa Cruz High School in 1949. After graduation, he joined the US Air Force and served during the Korean War where he was stationed in Cocoa Beach, Florida.
In 1953, he met and married Rebecca “Becky” Jaramillo of El Gauche. Together, they raised 12 children in the community of Santa Cruz, in a house he built on a section of what was once the Borrego family orchard.
He was a life-long member of the Holy Cross Catholic Church in Santa Cruz. He worked for the US Postal Service in Los Alamos for 36 years until he retired. He was an avid sports fan, valued education, and enjoyed the outdoors. He loved taking his family camping, waterskiing and on picnics.
Being born into a farming family gave him valuable skills in working with the land. He loved tending to his vegetable garden, fruit trees and lawn, which he diligently maintained for over 60 years. He was a humble man, knowledgeable, good with his hands, kind and generous. He had strong morals and values and was a believer in old- fashioned work ethics.
Gilbert loved traveling with Becky in their retirement years. After Becky became ill, Gilbert and his children lovingly cared for her for the duration of her illness.
Gilbert was preceded in death by his wife of 62 years, Rebecca “Becky” Borrego, who passed away earlier this year; his parents, Adrian and Elena Borrego; in-laws Salomon Jaramillo, Sr. and Maria Emiteria Espinosa-Jaramillo; his son, Adrian Gilbert Borrego; his brothers and sisters Juanita Moya, Isabel Valencia, Ursulo Borrego, Joe Borrego, Annie Espinosa, Consuelo Lopez, Johnny Borrego, Bobby Borrego, Benny Borrego, and Jerry Borrego.
He is survived by his 11 children, Karen Duran (Dennis) of Sombrillo; Susan Molina of Denver; Patricia Gurule (Tim) of Corrales; Valerie Borrego Urrea (Tomás) of Albuquerque; Connie Maestas of Albuquerque; Bonnie Montoya (Joseph) of La Villita; Thomas Borrego (Melissa) of Santa Cruz; Renee Garfias (Erik) of Denver; Rebecca Borrego of Taos; Melissa Borrego (Chris Chaffin) of Rio Rancho; and Therese Dixon (Leonard) of Albuquerque.
Gilbert is survived by his siblings, Lourdes Fresquez, Leroy Borrego (Ciria), Manuel Borrego (Maggie), Emelda Roybal and devoted nephew and neighbor Severino “Sonny” Borrego (Bertha).
Gilbert is also survived by brothers and sisters-in-law Joe Audelio Lopez, Susie Borrego and Emma Borrego, Joe H. Jaramillo, Celene Maestas, Salomon Jaramillo, Jr. (Lucy), Paul Jaramillo (Rose), Benjamin Jaramillo (Helen), Loretta Fresquez (David), Steven Jaramillo (Mabel), Caroline Crone (Tim), and Geraldine “Geri” Origer (Timothy).
Gilbert is survived by 23 grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren, and many nieces, nephews and cousins.
The family of Gilbert Borrego wishes to thank everyone for their love, support, and prayers.
A public viewing will be held on Sunday, November 5th, 2017, 3:30 p.m. at Holy Cross Catholic Church, followed by a rosary at 4:00 p.m. On Monday, November 6th, the funeral mass will be held at Holy Cross Catholic Church at 11:00 a.m., followed by a Christian burial at Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery. The family of Gilbert Borrego has entrusted the care of their loved one to the DeVargas Funeral Home & Crematory of the Española Valley.
He was born on August 28, 1931, in Santa Cruz, NM. He graduated from Santa Cruz High School in 1949. After graduation, he joined the US Air Force and served during the Korean War where he was stationed in Cocoa Beach, Florida.
In 1953, he met and married Rebecca “Becky” Jaramillo of El Gauche. Together, they raised 12 children in the community of Santa Cruz, in a house he built on a section of what was once the Borrego family orchard.
He was a life-long member of the Holy Cross Catholic Church in Santa Cruz. He worked for the US Postal Service in Los Alamos for 36 years until he retired. He was an avid sports fan, valued education, and enjoyed the outdoors. He loved taking his family camping, waterskiing and on picnics.
Being born into a farming family gave him valuable skills in working with the land. He loved tending to his vegetable garden, fruit trees and lawn, which he diligently maintained for over 60 years. He was a humble man, knowledgeable, good with his hands, kind and generous. He had strong morals and values and was a believer in old- fashioned work ethics.
Gilbert loved traveling with Becky in their retirement years. After Becky became ill, Gilbert and his children lovingly cared for her for the duration of her illness.
Gilbert was preceded in death by his wife of 62 years, Rebecca “Becky” Borrego, who passed away earlier this year; his parents, Adrian and Elena Borrego; in-laws Salomon Jaramillo, Sr. and Maria Emiteria Espinosa-Jaramillo; his son, Adrian Gilbert Borrego; his brothers and sisters Juanita Moya, Isabel Valencia, Ursulo Borrego, Joe Borrego, Annie Espinosa, Consuelo Lopez, Johnny Borrego, Bobby Borrego, Benny Borrego, and Jerry Borrego.
He is survived by his 11 children, Karen Duran (Dennis) of Sombrillo; Susan Molina of Denver; Patricia Gurule (Tim) of Corrales; Valerie Borrego Urrea (Tomás) of Albuquerque; Connie Maestas of Albuquerque; Bonnie Montoya (Joseph) of La Villita; Thomas Borrego (Melissa) of Santa Cruz; Renee Garfias (Erik) of Denver; Rebecca Borrego of Taos; Melissa Borrego (Chris Chaffin) of Rio Rancho; and Therese Dixon (Leonard) of Albuquerque.
Gilbert is survived by his siblings, Lourdes Fresquez, Leroy Borrego (Ciria), Manuel Borrego (Maggie), Emelda Roybal and devoted nephew and neighbor Severino “Sonny” Borrego (Bertha).
Gilbert is also survived by brothers and sisters-in-law Joe Audelio Lopez, Susie Borrego and Emma Borrego, Joe H. Jaramillo, Celene Maestas, Salomon Jaramillo, Jr. (Lucy), Paul Jaramillo (Rose), Benjamin Jaramillo (Helen), Loretta Fresquez (David), Steven Jaramillo (Mabel), Caroline Crone (Tim), and Geraldine “Geri” Origer (Timothy).
Gilbert is survived by 23 grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren, and many nieces, nephews and cousins.
The family of Gilbert Borrego wishes to thank everyone for their love, support, and prayers.
A public viewing will be held on Sunday, November 5th, 2017, 3:30 p.m. at Holy Cross Catholic Church, followed by a rosary at 4:00 p.m. On Monday, November 6th, the funeral mass will be held at Holy Cross Catholic Church at 11:00 a.m., followed by a Christian burial at Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery. The family of Gilbert Borrego has entrusted the care of their loved one to the DeVargas Funeral Home & Crematory of the Española Valley.
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