Mary Maria Montaño

“Mary” Maria Marta Agripina Montaño, 91, a resident of Hernandez, New Mexico, was called home to her Tata Dios on Friday, October, 28, 2016.  Our beloved mother, grandmother, great grandmother, tía, comadre, and friend was embraced by many loved ones as she entered the Kingdom of Heaven.  Born on September 25, 1925, Mary was the last of her generation. She was preceded in death by her husband Arsenio Manuel Montaño; her parents Juan Madrid and Genoveva Ortega; her sisters Tillie (Otilia) Maestas, Gaby (Gabriela) Montaño, Lila (Cirila) Vigil, Meres (Emerenciana) Herrera, and brother Jose Benito Madrid.  Left to cherish her memory and tell her story are her children: son, David Montaño of Hernandez; daughter, Barbara Montaño of Española; son, Arsenio Montaño (Petrita) of Hernandez; and daughter, Roberta Salazar of Chimayo.  Her cherished grandchildren are: Melissa (Steven), Mark, Jason, Julian (Kali), and Brian (Alicia) Salazar; Elias (Nicole), Daniel (Dora), Monica (Eric), and Antonio Montaño; Martha Santos (Ben); and Sarah Mendez (Gerald).  Mary’s legacy also includes 16 great grandchild: William, Eduardo, Ella Rose, and Ameera Montaño; Leda, Cruz, Santana, Solana, Sophia, Juliana, Aedan and Jacob Salazar; Jonah Salazar y Tafoya; Elijah Salazar-Menzies; and Madison and Issiah Schwiner.  Mary was the family matriarch. Family flowed through her front door into her kitchen, finding unconditional love, lessons of strength and resilience, and always home. She loved her kitchen. It was a sacred space where she prayed her rosary and where family and friends gathered for dinner, Sunday visits, and a customary cafecito bien calientito.  Mary was a life-long member of San Jose de Chama Church, a member of La Sagrada Familia, and a Carmelita serving Los Hermanos de Nuestro Padre Jesus Nazareno of El Duende.   Her family extends its deepest thanks to the staffs of Ideal Home Care and Ambercare Hospice of Española, especially to Angie Salazar, Carolina Madrid, and Rosa Cartier, her caretakers.  A special thank you is extended to her nephew Arthur “Tudy” Herrera and nieces Lorraine Vigil, Patricia Vigil, and Antonia Herrera, who visited their tía frequently to the very end of her life.  Mary will be carried to her final resting place by the following pallbearers: Julian and Brian Salazar; Mark and Jason Salazar; Elias and Daniel Montaño; Martha Santos and Melissa Salazar. Public visitation will begin on Thursday, November 3, 2016 at 6:00 p.m. in the Sangre de Cristo Chapel of DeVargas Funeral Home & Crematory with a rosary to be recited at 7:00 p.m. Mass of Christian burial to be celebrated on Friday, November 4, 2016 at 11:00 am. at the San Jose Catholic Church in Hernandez. Burial to follow at the San Jose Catholic Cemetery in Hernandez. Honorary pallbearers are all her grandchildren.  Our dearest Mary will be missed, but we are comforted to know that she is in Heaven alistando un cuartito for each of us.  May you fly with the Angels. The family of “Mary” Maria Marta Agripina Montaño has entrusted the care of their loved one to the DeVargas Funeral Home & Crematory of the Espanola Valley.

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