Carmelita “Carmen” Q. Gurule, 98, the queen of Cuarteles passed away on August 30, 2022, in the house that she so lovingly made a home.
Carmelita was preceded in death by her husband Joe V. Gurule, daughter Olivia Gurule, grandparents who raised her Jose Thomas and Lucillita Fresquez, parents Jose E. and Romanita Quintana, grandsons Michael Gurule, Dominic Manzanares, great-grandchildren Gabriella Gurule, Isa and Ventura Manzanares, and son-in-law Valentine Montoya.
Carmelita was born and raised in Cuarteles, NM and was a proud Esclava of the Capilla de la Sangre de Cristo. As a child she loved to go to the Capilla with her beloved grandparents Jose Thomas and Lucillita Fresquez and she would pour her love into her faith and community traditions. Her faith was strong, and she would often pray a novena to the Santo Nino de Atocha. She taught her family the importance of prayer and would remind them that “life is fragile, handle with prayer”.
Education was extremely important to Carmelita. After graduating high school, during World War II, Carmelita moved to California to work in the shipyards and worked as a true Rosie the Riveter. When she came home to New Mexico she attended New Mexico Highlands University and received her certification to teach. Carmelita stressed the importance of education to her family. During her time at Highlands, Carmelita accepted a ride with friends to Santa Fe to visit her parents. It was on this drive home that she met her “Honey” Joe V. Gurule who she would marry three short months later.
Joe and Carmelita loved to travel with their children, taught their family that an arroyo could serve as the perfect location for an Easter celebration, and they were blessed to celebrate over 50 years of marriage. Together they built a beautiful family with 7 children, 22 grandchildren, 36 great-grandchildren, and 3 great-great-grandchildren. Carmelita loved to be with her family and would rest best with a house full of noise and the sound of tiny feet running around. She cared for many of her grandchildren and would spend time teaching them, reading to them, coloring on paper sacks and would always have a snack ready when they arrived home from school.
Carmelita loved to read her daily devotional and readers digest. She firmly believed in getting ready and looking her best to start each day. Her families birthdays were never missed and she always made sure to celebrate with a personalized card and phone call.
Carmelita will be missed by her children Ymelda (Lenny) Roybal, Ernestine Montoya, Thomas (Margie), Tim (Patricia), Joseph (Michelle), Ben (Suzanne) Gurule, Felice Gurule and all of her grandchildren, her sister Lourdes Gonzales (Cliff Russell), son-in-law Bennie Sandoval, and special friend Josie Atilano.
Special thanks to her caretakers Blanca, Yadira, Andrea, and Virginia; her meals on wheels friend Jonathan; and Ambercare friends Trish, Virginia and Julian.
The services for Carmelita will begin September 12th with a rosary held at her beloved parish Santa Cruz de la Cañada at 4:00 pm and public visitation will begin at 3:30 pm. The Mass of Christian Burial will be held at Santa Cruz de la Cañada September 13th at 12 noon followed by a burial at the Santa Fe National Cemetery at 2:30 pm. Serving as her pallbearers will be her children.
The family of Carmelita Gurule has entrusted the care of their loved one to the DeVargas Funeral Home & Crematory of the Espanola Valley 505-747-7477 www.devargasfuneral.com
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