Maria Marcellina Rael Horney

Maria Marcellina Rael Horney

1942-2024

Maria Marcellina Rael Horney, beloved wife, mother and grandmother, passed away on Sunday, April 28, 2024.

Marcella was born May 4, 1942, in Belen, to Nabor Rael and Margaret Garcia Wise.

Marcella married Pete Adams Horney in 1963 after graduating from the University of New Mexico, where she earned a B.A. in education. She later earned her master’s degree, also in education.

Her career was one of devoted service to children; her own as a loving homemaker, and thousands of others as an educator in the public school systems of Colorado, North Dakota and North Carolina from which she retired. She was certified in K-12, foreign language and special education.

Marcella’s interests and hobbies were numerous. She was a writer, musician, scholar, doll maker, historian, seamstress, painter, collector, jewelry smith and woodworker. She loved to travel, read, teach and share knowledge, watch movies and listen to and play music.

She founded book clubs, doll clubs, dinner clubs, travel clubs and was a member of the Red Hat Society. She cared for many and always gave more than she received. She was known for her selflessness and will be greatly missed by those that knew and loved her, especially her family and friends.

Marcella was preceded in death by her parents, Nabor and Margaret Rael; her brother, Benito Rael; and her husband, Pete.

She is survived by her sons, Mark (Cindy) Adams Horney and Paul Hannibal Horney; grandchildren, Griffin Adams Horney, Maria Grace Horney, Sophie Joy Horne and Luc Elijah Horney; and her siblings, Josefita Rael, Lucy (Jesus) Romero, Corrine (Chano) Romero, Norma (CB) Salazar, Sammy (Janice) Rael, Elsie (Arturo) Gallegos, Rudy (Stella) Rael, Ernest Rael and Dolores (Julio) Rael.

A celebration and remembrance of life will be held at 11 a.m., Saturday, Sept. 28, at Zion Church, 3419 NM 47, Suite D, Los Lunas.