Julie Gallegos

Julie Teresa Gallegos, a resident of Ojo Caliente, New Mexico was called to heaven on Sunday, January 30, 2022. She was preceded in death by her parents Joe Elith Archuleta and Ida Sandoval-Archuleta, her husband Patricio Gallegos, brothers, Johnny Florence and Vincent Archuleta, and father and mother in-law Leandro and Asencion Gallegos. Brother in-laws Julian Gallegos and Johnny Gallegos; sister in-laws Isabel Archuleta; Jesusita Vigil, and Rebecca Gallegos.

Julie was born in El Carmen, New Mexico on February 1, 1956, and grew up in the beautiful Mora Valley surrounded by her large extended family. She attended Highlands University in Las Vegas, New Mexico. It was there that she met her husband Pat. They were married on July 17, 1976. From then on, she became a beloved member of the Gallegos family and remained so throughout her life.

Pat and Julie lived in Milan, El Carmen, Vallecitos, and Chili after which, they settled in Ojo Caliente. Shortly after moving there, Pat passed away on the same day that she did, 33 years earlier. After the death of her husband, at the age of 32, Julie became both mother and father to her five children. Her children attribute all that they have accomplished in life to the many lessons and values that she instilled in them. She taught them to pray, love one another, and to love their family. The Archuleta and Gallegos families, along with the community around them, played strong roles in Julie’s children’s lives- she called them her safety net.

Julie was a loving grandmother to her 10 grandchildren. Despite not liking to fly, she got on planes to see them, rode rollercoasters and tilt-a-whirls with them, jumped in jump-houses and trampolines to their delight, and even got into swimming pools, rivers, and waterslides though she couldn’t swim. There was nothing that she wouldn’t do for them.

Julie enjoyed riding horses, wearing Levis and boots, watching westerns, and visiting with her family and friends. She changed her own oil and tires, loved to draw horses, was an exceptional cook, and had beautiful penmanship. She was known for her beautiful, long hair and her girlish figure. She never seemed to age.

She was a proud member of La Santa Cruz de Vallecitos, the Holy Family Society, and of the Guadalupanas. She served as a Mayordoma of Saint Mary’s Church for the last 16 years where she served a lector, Eucharistic minister, catechism teacher, and as the altar society. In 2017, she received the St. Frances medal for her service to the Church.

Julie earned an Associate’s Degree in Business Administration from Northern New Mexico College and Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from the University of Phoenix. She was employed by Los Alamos National Laboratory for over 33 years where she currently served as the Professional Staff Assistant for the NHMFL Magnet Lab. She enjoyed working with and becoming friends with almost the same group of people her entire career at LANL.

Public visitation will begin on Tuesday, February 8, 2022, at 5:00 pm at Saint Mary’s Catholic Church in Ojo Caliente, with a Rosary to follow at 6:00 pm. A second public visitation will be held on Wednesday, February 9, 2022, at 5:00 pm at Saint Gertrude’s Catholic Church in Mora with a Rosary to follow at 6:00 pm. Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Thursday, February 10, 2022, at 11:00 am at Saint Gertrude’s Catholic Church in Mora with burial to follow at the Nuestra Señora del Carmen Catholic Cemetery in El Carmen, New Mexico. All in attendance are asked to wear face masks to protect one another from COVID transmission. If you are not feeling well, please stay home and express your condolences to the family in another way. Those wishing to send flowers should send them to the mortuary by Tuesday, February 8th at 1:00 pm in order to transport them to both services.

Serving Mrs. Gallegos as pallbearers will be Gary Gallegos, Leandro Gallegos, Daniel Gallegos, Jordan Gallegos, Patrick Peabody, Elijah Gallegos, and Austin Pitzer. Honorary pallbearers will be Diego Jaramillo, Jerome Jaramillo, Javier Archuleta, Dominic Archuleta, Thomas Peabody, Sean Gonzales, Martin Flores, James Sandoval, Kenny Sandoval, Martin Sandoval, Beto Martinez, and Kiko Martinez.

Julie T. Gallegos is survived by her children Anita Gallegos (Sean), Gary Gallegos (Tanya), Leandro Gallegos (Le’Andrea), Daniel Gallegos, and Rebecca Gallegos. Her grandchildren Danica, Jordan, Isabella, Patrick, Dyani, Denae, Parker, Elijah, Aylynn, and Austin (Thomas, Deanna, and Brian). Her siblings Joe Archuleta (Bercy), Alex Archuleta, John Archuleta (Irene), Leroy Archuleta (George), Frances Archuleta, Theresa Mendibles (Eddy), and James Archuleta (Michelle). Her Gallegos siblings Theresa Medina (Tito); Dolores Lopez (Bobby); Patricia Gallegos, Elaine Archuleta (Rudy), Margaret Alire (Donald), Richard Gallegos (Daniella), and Robert Gallegos (Gabriel). Her Godchildren Yvonne Archuleta, John Dean Gallegos, Javier Archuleta, Kimberly Vigil, Miguel Alire, and Alysha Sandoval along with numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends that she loved dearly.

The Family of Julie T. Gallegos would like to thank the staff at Christus St. Vincent Hospital in Santa Fe, New Mexico for their care of our beloved mother. We would especially like to thank Dennis and the visitor desk staff and nurses Olivia, Ruben, Ruby, and Joey for their competence and compassion during this most difficult time for our family.

It was from the Lord that we received the gift of Julie Teresa Gallegos. We will always remember her with love and respect. We, who are left behind, submit ourselves to the will of God. We do not mourn without hope, we rejoice knowing that one day, we will meet our beautiful Julie again.

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