Preciliano Romero

Preciliano Aurel Romero, born July 18, 1939, to Ramon and Anita Romero in El Rancho, New Mexico, passed away peacefully at his home in Ranchitos, New Mexico on December 11, 2025, surrounded by his loving family.

Pres was a lifelong resident of El Rancho, New Mexico. He attended El Rancho Elementary and graduated from Pojoaque High school. He was drafted into the United States Army in February 1962, where he served as a finance clerk working on payroll. He served until February 1964 and was honorably discharged.

Pres met the love of his life, Charlotte Padilla, at the A&W Drive In, where Charlotte worked as a carhop. They were married February 01, 1965, and lived in Ranchitos, New Mexico, where they began raising their family. Pres worked for grocery stores in Espanola and in Taos before beginning a career with the Department of Energy (DOE), which operated the Fire Department in Los Alamos, New Mexico. He also worked part-time with the Los Alamos National Laboratory. In 1986, Pres was injured while working for the Fire Department in Los Alamos and was unable to continue working.

Preciliano was preceded in death by his loving wife, Charlotte Padilla-Romero; his parents, Ramon and Anita Romero; brothers, Ismael Romero and Louie Romero, and sister, Belle Romero. Sister-in-law, Margarita Romero; in-laws, Frank and Mary Padilla; grandchild, Gary Duran; brother-in-law, Rudy Gonzales; baby niece, Audrey Padilla; nephew. Edward Padilla; and great niece, Antonia Mascarenas.

Pres is survived by his son, Matthew Romero; daughters, Cindy Romero and Brenda Padilla (Bounthavy Hong); grandchildren, Nicole Jaramillo (David), Kyra Romero, Darrion Romero, Angelica Garcia (Esequiel), Jessica Gurule (Mack Ryan), Justin Padilla, Jared Padilla (Anthony Vazquez), and Joshua Padilla (Delfildo Garcia); great grandchildren, Donte and Amaree Jaramillo, Raffael, Rogelio and Daviana Garcia, Katelyn, Serenity and Mack Ryan Gurule; brothers, Arthur Romero and Sam Romero; brothers-in-law, Tony Padilla (Mary), Danny Padilla (Eileen), Joe Padilla (Connie); sisters-in-law, Lucy Romero, Amelia Gonzales, and Evelyn Herrera (Alfred).

The family would like to thank all personnel at DeVargas Funeral Home & Crematory for the loving and compassionate care of their loved one.

Serving as pallbearers are Darrion Romero, Michael Pacheco, Justin Padilla, Jared Padilla, Joshua Padilla, and Delfildo Garcia.

A public viewing for Preciliano will be held on December 30, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. at Santa Cruz de la Cañada, 126 S. McCurdy Rd., Santa Cruz, New Mexico 87567, with a Rosary to follow at 10:30 a.m. and Mass to begin at 11:00 a.m. Preciliano will be buried at the Santa Fe National Cemetery at 1:00 p.m.

The family of Preciliano Romero has entrusted the care of their loved one to the DeVargas Funeral Home & Crematory of the Espanola Valley, 505-747-7477, www.devargasfuneral.com