Obituaries (Feb. 20, 2025)

Sally S. Chavez

1923-2025

Sally S. Chavez, age 101, was called home to be with our Lord on Friday, Jan. 31, 2025.

Services will be held at Immaculate Conception Church in Tomé, on Saturday, March 1. Visitation will begin at 9 a.m., with a Rosary to be recited at 10 a.m., and Funeral Mass to be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. Interment will take place at 11 a.m., Monday, March 3, at Santa Fe National Cemetery.

Born and raised in Tomé to Procopio and Maria Silva, she graduated from Los Lunas High School and later attended Albuquerque Business College. Sally married the love of her life, Fermin G. Chavez, on Aug. 31, 1947, and they were married for 70 years before Fermin’s passing in 2017.

Sally and Fermin had six children, Bernard (wife, Mardee) Chavez, Jerome (wife, Holly) Chavez, George (wife, Teresa) Chavez, Clarence (wife, Lynn) Chavez, Della (husband, Jerry) Willis, and Jacqueline (husband, Derrick) Ross.

Sally was an active member of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Tomé for many years, where she served as Eucharistic Minister, taking communion to the sick and sang in the church choir. She was also an active member of the St. Vincent De Paul Society and Catholic Daughters of the Americas.

Outside of the church, she spent many years as a 4-H leader, was treasurer for the Valencia County Fair Board and an active member of the Tomé-Adelino Fire Department Ladies Auxiliary.

Sally and Fermin loved to travel and their travels often took them on many wonderful adventures with friends and family. They also loved bowling, and could often be found at Sugar Bowl Lanes enjoying a game with friends and team mates.

Sally will always be remembered for her wonderful sense of humor, baking, love and commitment of family, and service to the Tomé community. She will always share a special place in the hearts of her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, many nieces, nephews and lifelong friends.

Sally was preceded in death by her parents, loving husband, son, Fermin G. Chavez Jr.; granddaughter, Deanna Chavez; great-granddaughter, Emery Jost; and brothers, Gillie Silva, Patricio Silva, Jose P. Silva Jr, Amarante Silva and Ivan Silva.

The family would like to express their deep appreciation to nurses Erin Barreras and Stephanie VanCuren, of Harmony Hospice, for their kindness and care of Sally over the past year.

Urn bearers will be her grandsons, Jason Chavez, Sean Willis, Garrett Ross and Conner Chavez.

Please sign Sally’s online tribute at romerofuneralhomenm.com. Romero Funeral Home, 609 N. Main St., Belen.

Luella Foster

1951-2025

Luella Foster, age 73, of Los Lunas, passed away peacefully at her home surrounded by her loving family on Feb. 11, 2025.

She was born to Richard and Lillian McCoard in Fort Bragg, Calif., on May 4, 1951.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Windford and Blanch Foster Waldo, Bill and Larry McCoard, Jennie Zissa, Ruth Salo, Elzada Hater; and great-granddaughter, Oaklee Mae Franco.

She is survived by her husband, Terry G. Foster Sr.; Terry G. Foster Jr. (Lisa), Trena Foster, Mary McKinley (Marty), Steven Foster (April), Richard Foster, Joyce Santana (Bob) and John Foster (Kristina); 26 grandkids, five great-grandkids; brothers, Dan McCoard (Loretta) and George McCoard (Debbie) of California.

Luella was a woman who devoted her existence to her family. As a devoted wife, a loving mother and doting momma, she was the family’s glue. She was the first to plan a family gathering, sharing stories with everyone, and always ready to take a camping trip, as long as the whole family was joining her!

She was a proud member of the LDS Church, and was strong in her faith. She loved her country music — Alan Jackson, Garth Brooks and some good ole Johnny Cash. The matriarch of the family, her place will never be able to be filled. She will be deeply missed, and forever loved.

Private services for Luella will take place at a later date in California.

Arrangements are being handled by the caring professionals at the Noblin Funeral Service Belen Chapel, where an online guest register is available at noblin.com.

Joe Castillo Garcia

1931-2025

It is with great sorrow that the family of Joe Castillo Garcia announce his passing. He died of natural causes on Feb. 4, 2025.

A long-time resident of Albuquerque, he was born on Aug. 1, 1931, in Balmorhea, Texas. He was married to Lydia Martinez (now deceased) for 40 years.

He served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War, and was an active member in the Catholic Church, the Kiwanis, Veterans of Foreign Wars and the Boy Scouts.

Our dad was hard-working and was known for owning several businesses, hardware stores in Grants, Ruidoso and Bosque Farms. He owned a tire shop and sold used cars as well as co-founded two credit unions to aid disadvantaged Hispanics, and helped countless people achieve financial freedom with his financial expertise.

As a manager of the Whites store in Albuquerque, he achieved Manager of the Year and countless awards as Salesman of the Year.

He is lovingly remembered by his sister, Eloisa Aguilar married to Tommy Aguilar of Odessa, Texas; daughter, Nora Diaz and her husband, Chris; daughter, Belinda Griego; son, Rojelio Garcia; three grandchildren, three great-grandchildren as well as many family members.

A funeral service will be held on Wednesday, Feb. 26, with a viewing at 9:15 a.m., a Rosary at 9:30 a.m., and Mass at 10 a.m. at San Ignacio Catholic Church, 1300 Walter St. NE, Albuquerque.

A committal ceremony to mark his final resting place will be held at the Santa Fe National Cemetery, 501 N. Guadalupe St., Santa Fe at 1:30 p.m.

Please visit our online guest book for Joe at www.FrenchFunerals.com. FRENCH – University, 1111 University Blvd. NE, 505.843.6333.

Jean Clyde Hamey

1930-2025

Jean Clyde Hamey, age 94, died on Feb. 13, 2025, at the Clay Center Presbyterian Manor in Clay Center, Kan.

She was born to Roy and Nina (Barr) Mitchell on Sept. 28, 1930, in Gallup, N.M. Jean graduated high school in Winslow, Ariz. She later went on to a music-based college in Denton, Texas, as well as attended a vocational college for bookkeeping.

Jean was a jack of all trades. She was a beautician for several years, owned and operated a restaurant in Belen and worked as the bookkeeper for Auge’s Chrysler/Dodge Automotive Sales. Jean moved from Belen to Liberal, Kan., in 1996. She then settled in Clay Center in 2018.

Jean had a passion for music. She played violin throughout school and adulthood and was part of the Liberal Symphony. Beyond Jean’s love of classical music and cross stitch was her love for her grandson.

Jean was a former member of the Episcopal Church in Liberal and Belen.

Jean is survived by her son, Roy and wife, Debbie, of Clay Center, Kan; grandson, Joshua Hamey, of Clay Center, Kan; sister-in-law, Barbara Mitchell; as well as two nephews and one niece all, of Oregon.

She is preceded in death by her parents, and her brother, Oliver Mitchell.

Online condolences may be made at nsrfh.com.

Bernice Ortega Perez de Torrez

1934-2025

Bernice Ortega Perez de Torrez, age 91, a resident of Albuquerque, passed away on Feb. 10, 2025.

Services took place on Friday, Feb. 14, at San Juan Mission Catholic Church in Veguita, beginning with a visitation at 10 a.m., followed by a Rosary at 11 a.m. and a Funeral Mass celebrated at 11:30 a.m. Interment followed at San Juan Catholic Cemetery in Veguita.

She was survived by her loving husband, Ignacio; children, Laura Aydee (Javier), Alejandro (Cintia), Ignacio (Rocio), Edwin (Edwina), Rudy (Shirley) and Garland M.O. Torrez; 22 grandchildren, 24 great-grandchildren and 11 great-great grandchildren, and her siblings, Jimmy (Lorina), Toni (Marie) and Connie.

Bernice is preceded in death by her parents, Pilar and Leonor Ortega Vigil.

She was a member of San Jose Catholic Church in Albuquerque. She loved to go to casino, crocheting and dancing.

Pallbearers were Ignacio Perez, Edwin, Rudy, Garland, Eloy and Jasmine Torrez. Honorary pallbearers were Diana Lopez, Andria Sennett, Chrisarah Watts, Emilio and Rudy Torrez.

Please sign Bernice’s online tribute at romerofuneralhomenm.com. Romero Funeral Home, 609 N. Main St., Belen.