Patsy Montoya

The Lord called and the angels sang, Patsy Montoya, on Thursday, November 10^th, 2022, as she passed away peacefully in her sleep.  

Patsy was born in Nambe, New Mexico, on September 13, 1929.  She was a devout Catholic, praying the Rosary daily, staying with the Blessed Sacrament and most of all sharing her love and devotion to Christ our Lord with her family.  She was a lifelong member of Nuestra Senora de Guadalupe de Pojoaque.  She cherished the Sagrado Corazon Church in Nambe. Patsy married her husband Juan J.“Jonah” Montoya, Jr. They made their home in the beautiful community of Nambe where she was born and raised.

Patsy began working at the Wooley’s Ranch at a young age.  She used the Joy of Cooking cookbook to make cornish hens, lobster tails and crème brulee for the elaborate dinner parties the family would host.  Later in her life she became employed as the cook for the Red Rooster Bar and Tavern in which she and owner Mary Quintana became best friends.  She worked with Mel and Dicky Pfaelzer, who she loved like her family.

Patsy loved hosting people in her house, offering them something to eat and drink.  She made the best tortillas, two at a time if she had a helper to flip them on the comal.  Patsy had friends of all ages, she was kind, caring, compassionate, a good listener, and could carry on a conversation with anyone. She embraced the Native American culture and helped cook, serve and clean for Cultural celebrations.  

Patsy loved Nambe. She was a woman ahead of her times wanting only organic, picking apples from her brother Ponce’s apple orchard, buying food from the Health Food Store at DeVargas Mall and growing her own apricots, making apricot preserves in which she individually peeled each apricot. 

Patsy wore Southwestern attire, with the most beautiful silver and turquoise jewelry. Her custom-made house showed what a perfectionist she was.  She had a beautiful portal where she would sit in the summer and a kitchen with a skylight for a ceiling.  She had an eye for interior design and every piece of furniture and decor were thoughtfully placed. 

Patsy was a loving wife, godmother, sister, aunt, cousin, and friend.  Patsy is preceded in death by husband Juan J. Montoya Jr., parents Bernabe and Juan Lujan of Nambe, father-in-law, Juan J. Montoya Sr., siblings Joe Lujan (Mary), Teresina Romero (Luis), Ramon  Lujan, Ponce Lujan, brother-in-law Eraquio Roybal and her dear boy Polo who she treated as her child. She is survived by sister: Audelia Roybal, sisters-in-law Celine and Geraldine Lujan, brother-in-law Billy Montoya (Nita), special family members Barbara & Leonard Martinez, Bernie Garcia and Lynda Lujan-Trujillo. Patsy is survived by many nieces, nephews, godchildren and friends, in which she would always send them off with a big “beso” and inviting them to come over again.  

Patsy will live in our hearts forever and the memories she left with us are priceless. “Salud, amor, pesetas, y tiempo para gonzarlos.”. A Holy Rosary will be prayed at 9:15 am and funeral mass will follow at 10:00 am at the Sagrado Corazon Church de Nambe in Nambe, NM on Thursday, December 1^st, 2022. 

The family of Patsy Montoya has entrusted their loved one to DeVargas Funeral Home & Crematory of the beautiful Espanola Valley.   505.747.7477  www.devargasfuneral.com