Delores Garcia

On January 20, 2022, Dolores passed away at age 92 surrounded by close family and friends after a brief illness with cancer.  Dolores was born in Tapacitas, NM where she grew up and had her children in Chama, NM.  She lived in New Mexico most of her life, moving to Las Vegas, NV for a few years. She lived her life to the fullest serving others. She worked as a cook, housekeeper, waitress and bartender during her younger years. She was very social and loved meeting new people.

Dolores was one of the strongest, bravest, most hard working women that you could ever meet. She was very independent. She raised her 5 children on her own most of her life. She married Don Sanders in the 1990’s and was married about 10 years. She helped raise his children Lisa and Greg Sanders.

She never knew a stranger. We all appreciated her style of communication, she was a straight shooter. She always told you how it was. She never tried to hide the truth from anyone.

She cared deeply for her family, extended family, & friends. And she always ensured that every child who crossed her threshold was going to learn how to work, whether that be cooking, pulling weeds, doing dishes, and working in the yard. She was the epitome of a hard working woman. Her grandchildren expressed that she was a fighter and never let life knock her down and she instilled that is every one of them. She never sat still unless it was to have coffee and cookies with family or friends.

Dolores is survived by her son Andy Garcia (Jeanie Maestas), her daughter Diana Jacquez, daughter-in-law Kathryn Rivera and her son, Robert Valdez. Her youngest brother Leo (Leoba) Valdez. Her eleven grandchildren, many great-grandchildren. So many nieces, nephews and extended family that she loved like her own. She was preceded in death by her parents, her son, Danny Rivera and her daughter and son-in-law Frances and Dale Halvorson.

She will be missed dearly by everyone that had the pleasure to meet her.

Pallbearers: Andric Salazar, Robby Valdez, Bryce Sona, Isaiah Jacquez, Andrew Tuscon, Gage Garcia, Randy Archuleta and Meliccah Garcia

Honorary Pallbearers: Adonis Salazar, Matthew Tuscon, Daniel Rivera, Diego and Julian Stevens, and Evan Jacquez

A rosary will be held Friday January 28, 2022 at 9:30 a.m. with mass to follow at 10:00 am at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, 500 N. Mesa Verde Ave., Aztec, NM. Burial will be at Aztec Cemetery.