Jose "Benito" Lujan

Jose “Benito” Lujan of Llano, NM was born on August 27, 1943, in Llano, NM to Patrocinio and Emelina Lujan.  Benito went to be with our heavenly father on March 21, 2023, after an illness of two and a half years. He passed at home peacefully surrounded by his loving family.

He is preceded in death by his parents Patrocinio and Emilina Lujan, in-law Ricardo and Barbarita Martinez, Pablo and Elena Tafoya, brothers Pat, George, Nathan and Jose Lujan, sons Richard, Nathan and Benny Lujan and grandson Ricky Lujan.

He is survived by his wife of 56 years Helen Lujan; son Derrick (Pauline); brothers John, Roy and Elias Lujan; daughter-in-law’s he loved dearly Julie (Leo), Geraldine Romero, Pauline Lujan, Joyce Lujan, Candace Sedelack; grandchildren Christopher, Amberlee, Benny (Rachel), Elanie (Dough), Dylan, Jared, Paul (Erika), Pam (Adam), Kim Jodi (Denny), Belinda; great grandchildren Carter, Lilliana, PJ, Raylee; also baby Benita Emelina that will be joining us in June.  He loved his grandchildren and great grandchildren dearly and many nieces and nephews. Compadres and comadres whom he was very close with and loved dearly.

Benito worked at the Penasco Schools for 25 years (and was known as Papa Smurf).  He will be remembered for being a jokester who always loved joking with people.  He was an outdoor man, fishing, yard work gathering firewood he always proud of his wood pile.  He enjoyed working on cars with his boys. He was always so happy when his grandkids came over. He was always very proud and interested in everything they were doing with their lives and always encouraged them to reach for the stars.  He loved spending time with his #1 bodyguard, his wonderful Mia (a little chihuahua) that sat next to him and no one was allowed to get near him. 

Benito will be missed dearly. The sound of his voice, his jokes, always there to help where he could, even if it was just lending the neighbor an tool, picking up grandkids from school, pulling out his daughter-in-law when she got her car stuck in the mud and always there for this boys no matter the situation, he loved them so much.  He appreciated his Christopher with all his heart for taking over the day-to-day chores he could no longer do. 

Serving as Pallbearer’s are Christopher, Amberlee, Benny (Rachel), Elanie (Dough), Pam (Adam), Jared, Paul (Erika), Kim Jodi (Denny), Dylan and Belinda.  Honorary Pallbearers Carter, Lillianna, Raylee, PJ, and baby Benita Emelina.

He would like to thank the Presbyterian ICU staff for being so wonderful, with special thanks to Jason Gonzales for helping us find an ambulance to bring him home, to Jane for being such a caring, wonderful nurse to him. To Father John for coming out to our home to hive him his last rites.  Thanks to Agnes and Lawrence for going to pray for him at the hospital, to Pastor Mike for coming to the hospital to anoint him and to everybody that has been so kind and wonderful with the family and to DeVargas Funeral staff for being so respectful and good to our family.

A Rosary will be recited on Thursday, April 13, 2023, at 11:00 am at St. Anthonys Catholic Church in Penasco, NM, with a Mass of Christian Burial to follow at 12:00 pm.  Burial will take place immediately following the mass at Llano de San Juan Presbyterian Cemetery in Llano, NM.

The family of Jose Benito Lujan has entrusted the care of their loved one to DeVargas Funeral Home & Crematory of the beautiful Espanola Valley.  www.devargasfuneral.com   (505) 747-7477