Sarah
Sarah Gallegos
d. March 2, 2016
SARAH MARIA GALLEGOS, passed away on March 2, 2016 at the age of 93, surrounded by her loving family. She was born on October 29, 1922 to Macedonio and Maria Nicolacita Tafoya in Talpa, NM and raised in Taos, NM and Antonito, CO. She married Hipolito Orlando Gallegos in 1941. They lived and worked for a few years on family ranch property in Los Comanches, and eventually moved to Santa Cruz, NM, where they raised their family of seven children. Her children have sweet memories of her cooking, canning and homemaking skills that provided summer-fresh fruit and vegetables in winter and warm buttered tortillas after school. Sarah enjoyed travels to California and Mexico, and she loved to go fishing. She took pride in her flower garden, and she loved to create jewelry and whimsical dollhouse furniture out of tin and other common household materials. Sarah loved her animals, including a delightful cockatiel she taught to say, “Give me a hug,” and to whistle “La Cucaracha.”
After suffering a severe stroke in 2006, Sarah fought her way back to independent living. And when she discovered the Rio Arriba Senior Center, she was welcomed into a vibrant community of friends, activities and support. She loved the parties, the dances and the music, as well as any opportunity to tell a joke with a well-timed punchline.
Sarah Gallegos was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Hipolito; her brothers, Ernie Tafoya and Fred Tafoya, her sister, Carmen Tafoya, her daughter-in-law, Patsy Gallegos, four of her grandchildren, Russell Gallegos, Isaac Martinez, Mark Garcia, Annette Martinez, and Amber Gallegos, and one great-granddaughter, Jennifer Martinez. She is survived by her brother, Tony Tafoya, her children, Ernie (Lou Anna) Gallegos, Glen Gallegos, Ruben Gallegos (Rex Swanda), Evelyn Martinez, Mary (Ralph) Lopez, Gloria (Gilbert) Garcia and Judy Gallegos. She is also survived by 20 grandchildren, 29 great-grandchildren, and one great-great grandchild. Public visitation will begin on Friday, March 11, 2016 at 10:00 a.m. at La Iglesia de Santa Cruz de la Cañada with a rosary to be recited at 10:30 a.m. and Mass of Christian burial to be celebrated immediately at 11:00 a.m. Burial to follow at the Ojo Caliente Cemetery with the following grandsons serving as pallbearers, Andrew Gallegos, Ernesto Gallegos, Chris Gallegos, John Gallegos, and great-grandsons, Shaun Gasca-Gallegos, Adam Roybal, David Roybal and Tim Gallegos. The family of Sarah Maria Gallegos has entrusted their loved one to DeVargas Funeral Home & Crematory of the Española Valley.
After suffering a severe stroke in 2006, Sarah fought her way back to independent living. And when she discovered the Rio Arriba Senior Center, she was welcomed into a vibrant community of friends, activities and support. She loved the parties, the dances and the music, as well as any opportunity to tell a joke with a well-timed punchline.
Sarah Gallegos was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Hipolito; her brothers, Ernie Tafoya and Fred Tafoya, her sister, Carmen Tafoya, her daughter-in-law, Patsy Gallegos, four of her grandchildren, Russell Gallegos, Isaac Martinez, Mark Garcia, Annette Martinez, and Amber Gallegos, and one great-granddaughter, Jennifer Martinez. She is survived by her brother, Tony Tafoya, her children, Ernie (Lou Anna) Gallegos, Glen Gallegos, Ruben Gallegos (Rex Swanda), Evelyn Martinez, Mary (Ralph) Lopez, Gloria (Gilbert) Garcia and Judy Gallegos. She is also survived by 20 grandchildren, 29 great-grandchildren, and one great-great grandchild. Public visitation will begin on Friday, March 11, 2016 at 10:00 a.m. at La Iglesia de Santa Cruz de la Cañada with a rosary to be recited at 10:30 a.m. and Mass of Christian burial to be celebrated immediately at 11:00 a.m. Burial to follow at the Ojo Caliente Cemetery with the following grandsons serving as pallbearers, Andrew Gallegos, Ernesto Gallegos, Chris Gallegos, John Gallegos, and great-grandsons, Shaun Gasca-Gallegos, Adam Roybal, David Roybal and Tim Gallegos. The family of Sarah Maria Gallegos has entrusted their loved one to DeVargas Funeral Home & Crematory of the Española Valley.
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