Cover photo for Luisita Sanchez's Obituary
Luisita

Luisita Sanchez

d. February 21, 2021

Luisita D Sanchez, age 95 of Rodarte, NM passed peacefully in the early morning of Sunday, February 21, 2021. Luisita was preceded in death by her loving husband of 45 years Jose Doinicio “JD” Sanchez, her father Juan Dominguez, mother Rosalia Trujillo, siblings Hipolito Herrera (Ida), Flora Herrera, Archie Herrera (Bessie), Cecelio Herrera (Josina), Gabbie Jaramillo (Fred), Elisama Duran (John), Jose Iginio Dominguez (Mary), sons Joseph and Juan Sanchez, and daughter-in-law Elizabeth Vigil Sanchez.

Luisita is survived by her children Mabel Orchard, Jose N Sanchez (Jeanette), Sammy Sanchez, Josefa Steen (Jeff), Evan Sanchez and Ronnie Sanchez; Grandchildren Joe Muniz (Kathy), Damian Orchard (Dusti), Danny Keever (Stephanie), Jeffrey Steen II (Jennifer), Dwayne Sanchez (Monica), Allen Sanchez, Sr., Carl Orchard, Ben Sanchez (Tenesha), Stormie Steen, Juan Steen (Jessica), and Joseph Steen (Cindy); Great-grandchildren Natisha Gonzalez (Pablo), Isaiah Dasheno, Justin Muniz, Victoria Muniz, Luciana Steen, Jeffrey Steen III, Aletha Steen, Angelina Orona, Zoë LaPlante, Rustin Steen, Lilly Steen, Kyleigh Sanchez, Cameron Sanchez, Ryan Sanchez, Allen Sanchez, Jr., Katelynn Sanchez, Adam Sanchez, Javier Donicio “little JD” Sanchez, Kenedie Keever, and Shane Tuttle; Great-great grandchildren Joziah Gonzalez and Gabriel Gonzalez.

Born Maria Luisita Dominguez in La Madera, NM on July 28, 1925.  Luisita was raised in La Madera where she met the love of her life and sweetheart JD who she married on February 14, 1942.  Their beautiful love story started after meeting in La Madera where JD was stationed in the CCC Camp during the Great Depression.  After they wed, JD took his new bride Luisita to live in his hometown Rodarte.  A week after their wedding, JD was drafted to World War II.  While he was away at war, they wrote love letters to each other every day, for a whole year.  Upon JD’s return from the war, they worked side-by-side to build their home in Rodarte. They farmed, raised animals and started a family; raised their 5 surviving children and two grandchildren as their own. Luisita had 13 grandchildren, 19 great-grandchildren, and 2 great-great-grandchildren. Luisita loved all her grandchildren dearly; and they all loved her, her homemade goodies and playing with her bingo dabbers.

Luisita was a faithful member of the San Antonio de Padua Parish in Peñasco where she attended mass every Sunday, so long as her health allowed. She will be remembered by many as “the pretty lady” who always wore her red lipstick, red painted nails, and earrings. She was well known in the Peñasco community for her delicious cooking, hand sewn quilts and elaborate wedding cakes. Luisita made a career of cooking and baking, and was an artist at decorating cakes. She managed the Peñasco Independent Schools cafeteria for many years.  She retired as head cook of the restaurant in Sipapu Ski Lodge after 20 years.  Tourists from all over came for her yummy New Mexican cuisine, especially her red chili enchiladas and pillow soft fluffy sopapillas. She has left a legacy of young chefs and bakers.  Her grandsons and granddaughters are learning to make her biscochitos, tamales, wedding cookies, sopapillas, red chili, bread, and tortillas.  When she retired she loved going to the bingo, baking for her friends, and also enjoyed visiting her brothers and sisters. Luisita had many friends and relatives. She will especially be missed by her children and grandchildren, who she always welcomed with her beautiful smile, their favorite meal, cookies, pies, bread, tortillas, and her “red lipstick” kiss on the cheek.

“A light from our family is gone, a voice we loved is stilled. A place is vacant in the home which never can be filled.  We have to mourn the loss of one, we would’ve loved to keep.  But God who surely loved her best has finally made her sleep.  After a lifetime of her love and joy and music to fill our ears.  God leaves us these wondrous memories to help us through the tears.” Rest in Peace Mom, Grandma, “Grams”, Sister, Tia, Prima, Amiga... until we meet again.

A rosary will be held at 6:00p.m. on Tuesday, March 2nd in the Sangre de Cristo Chapel of DeVargas Funeral Home & Crematory.  The following is a link for live streaming the Rosary: https://event.forgetmenotceremonies.com/ceremony/?c=1a8c4907-2c73-4a28-8a4f-d70ddfc252d8 Thank you to Hermanos of the Penasco area.   A Catholic mass will be celebrated for Luisita on Wednesday, March 3, 2021 at 10:00am at the San Antonio de Padua Catholic Church in Peñasco, NM. Burial will follow at 12:45pm at the Santa Fe National Cemetery, where she will lay to rest with her husband JD.  The following will serve as pallbearers: Joe Muniz, Ronnie Sanchez, Jeffrey Steen II, Juan Steen, Joseph Steen, and Isaiah Dasheno.  Honorary pallbearers: Dwayne Sanchez, Damian Orchard, Danny Keever, Allen Sanchez, Carl Orchard, and Ben Sanchez; along with all her boys.

Thank you for all the messages, thoughts and prayers extended to our family during this time. A special thank you to the staff at the Albuquerque Uptown Assisted Living for their care of our beloved mother/grandmother during her last months. – The Sanchez Family

The family of Luisita D. Sanchez has entrusted the care of their loved one to the DeVargas Funeral Home & Crematory of the Española Valley.

To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Luisita Sanchez, please visit our flower store.

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