Matilde Trujillo

Matilde Trujillo, 98, a resident of Chimayo, NM, passed away peacefully in her sleep on Friday, November 18, 2022, after a long illness.  She was preceded in death by her husband, John R. Trujillo; her parents, Apolonio and Celestina Martinez; her brothers (spouses), Abad Martinez (Josefina), Sigfredo Martinez (Genoveva), Vences Martinez (Virginia), Ernesto Martinez (Alicia), Arsenio Martinez (Flora); her sister, Fabiola Vigil; and her sister-in-law, Jane Martinez.  She was also preceded in death by her brothers-in-law (spouse), Juanito Trujillo and Ralph Trujillo (Rose); her sisters-in-law (spouses), Susana Lucero (Samuel), Nina Griffin (Bill), Rachel Tafoya (Candido), Clemencia Trujillo and Isaida Trujillo.

She is survived by her children; Carol Alarid and husband Johnny, Carlos Trujillo and Richard Trujillo; her grandchildren, Larissa Martinez and husband Miguel, and Gabriel Alarid and fiancé Valarie Almanzar;  her great grandchildren, Mateo Herrera, Mason and Kobe Alarid; and her step great grandchildren, Brandon and Bryson Martinez.  She is also survived by her brother, Ascencion Martinez and her brother in law, Anastacio Vigil, along with many other relatives.

Matilde was a very spiritual woman and a devout Catholic.  She prayed daily and participated in various church organizations.  She passed on her deep faith to her family and instilled in them the values of Christian life.

Matilde graduated from Santa Cruz High School in 1942.  After high school, she went to work at the Brown Moore School for Girls in Tesuque, NM in the meal and housing maintenance staff.  She soon left to the San Francisco, California area to work as a welder in the shipyards in support of the US military’s war effort during World War II.  She returned to Chimayo and began to work in her father’s general store where she soon met her husband to be, John R. Trujillo.  She spent the rest of her life being a wonderful mother and supporting her husband in the family weaving business, Trujillo’s Weaving Shop.  She was also an avid traveler, enjoying trips around the country and abroad to Mexico, Central America, South America, Europe and Israel.

A few years after her husband, John’s, death in 2001, Matilde started her long, slow struggle with dementia.  The family would like to thank all of those that visited with her, prayed with her and helped care for her in her final years.  They would especially like to thank her special niece, Barbara Montoya, all the caring staff at Ambercare Hospice, and her longest serving nurses, Erica Vigil Flores, and Claudette Pacheco.

A viewing for Matilde Trujillo will be held on December 6, 2022, at 5:30 p.m. at DeVargas Funeral Home & Crematory in the Sangre de Cristo Chapel and rosary will begin at 6:00 p.m. Mass of Christian burial will take place at Holy Family Catholic Church in Chimayo at 10:00 a.m. on December 7, 2022. Burial to follow at El Potrero.

The family of Matilde Trujillo has entrusted the care of their loved one to the DeVargas Funeral Home of Espanola Valley. www.devargasfuneral.com. 505-747-7477.