Mary Sanchez Arellano

Our lovely Mother, Mary Sanchez Arellano, was generous, genuine, meek, humble, and sincere, which is known by all. She was raised by her grandparents Manuel de Jesus and Rosenda Sanchez, but never estranged from Evaristo and Luisita Garcia her parents from Cerro, NM, her brother Eddie+, two sisters Orla+ and Lila from Hesperia, CA. She attended Catholic school in Costilla and graduated, in 1951 from Questa HS.  She absolutely loved her many Sanchez & Garcia cousins and was auntie, big sister and best friend to them.

She loved Red River and in her early 20’s was invited to live with Jack and Eunice Chambless, to help manage their home, jeep trail ways, beauty salon and restaurant businesses, even being crowned Miss Red River in 1951. She had succeeded in death our Dad Jose “Beto” Arellano. From their love sprouted Angela, Leonora (Faustine-“Tiner”), and Velma Arellano (husband Kevin Lee).  Tragically he died suddenly from injuries sustained in an automobile accident on New Year’s Day 1967 leaving her a widow, raising us alone at ages 9 months, 2 years and 3 ¼ years.  She has 6 grandchildren her eldest also succumbed from injuries sustained in a car accident also named Beto on Thanksgiving 2016. Surviving are: Alicia and husband Eric, Miguel and wife Nicole, Mateo and wife Marina, Martin and wife Felisha and Marcus and wife Tracey.  She has 16 beautiful great grandchildren all of whom she loved with her whole heart and more.  She was “Gram”.

She spent her life working 3 and 4 jobs to be the best sole provider one could ever have or ask for.  She also sold Avon and Tupperware on the side.  Our precious mom was a volunteer with V.I.T.A., preparing income tax forms for the elderly, low income and disabled, and later in life she wanted to give of herself and became a foster mom to high level at risk children from around Taos County. She will mostly go down in the history books for her big smile but especially for her Love and adoration of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament.  She was a proud member of the Sacred Heart League, Catholic Daughters of America, Guadalupana’s and extremely devoted Los Hermanos de Nuestro Padre Jesus Nazareno in Cerro.

It is not unknown that she lived her life in adoration and without a doubt is in the loving arms of our Heavenly Father.  We would be humbled if you join us in person, at home, near or far, in praying the rosary in unison for her soul and all the souls of the faithful departed at 6:00 p.m. Friday April 27.  Mass will be Saturday 10:00 a.m. both at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church in Questa, followed by Internment at Our Lady of Guadalupe Cemetery in Cerro.  The family of Mary Sanchez Arellano has entrusted the care of their loved one to the DeVargas Funeral Home & Crematory of the Espanola Valley. 505-747-7477-www.devargasfuneral.com