Soraida Herrera

It is with profound sadness that the family of Soraida "Sadie" Herrera, announce her passing on August 6, 2025, at the age of 90. 

Sadie, a life-long resident of El Rito, NM, was born on October 27, 1934, to the late Juan and Camila Ocaña. Sadie was a devoted wife to her husband, Paul, with whom she shared 50 years of marriage. After losing her husband, she went on to meet her partner Seferino with whom she shared 25 years. She was a loving mother to 9 children, a grandmother to 27 grandchildren and many great grandchildren and great, great grandchildren. 

Sadie's passion for cooking and baking extended beyond her own kitchen. She found joy in spending time with her family and hosting gatherings filled with laughter and her home-cooked meals. Sadie dedicated her passions to cooking in the restaurant industry until she opened her own restaurant in Ojo Caliente, NM, called Sadie’s Cafe. It is there that she spent hours creating recipes, enhancing her signature flavors and making a name for herself in her local communities until 1995 when she retired her apron. Since then, she kept herself busy traveling and adventuring.

Sadie is preceded in death by her parents Juan and Camilla Ocaña, her husband Paul, her sons Herman Herrera, David Herrera and Rudy Herrera, siblings Sophia Archuleta, Asencion Valdez, Ortancia Ocaña-Salaiz, Elizida Martinez, Cosme Ocaña, uncle Ismael Jaramillo, sons-in-law Joe Gonzales, Randy Valdez and grandson Rudy Herrera, Jr. 

Sadie is survived by her partner, Seferino Garcia, children, Darlene Gonzales, Pauline Valdez, Johnny Herrera (Ida), Emilio Herrera (Donna), Julie Herrera (Jerry), MaryKay Cannon (Ken), daughters-in-law Yvonne Herrera, Annie Herrera, sibling Francis Archuleta (Ted) and many grandchildren, great grandchildren and great, great grandchildren and many relatives and friends. Serving as honarary pallbearers are Johnny Herrera, Emilio Herrera, Darlene Gonzales, Pauline Valdez, Julie Herrera and MaryKay Cannon. Serving as pallbearers are John Guillen, Augustine Trujillo, Andrea Valdez, Annie Herrera, Randy Paul Valdez, Fernando Herrera, Thomas Quintana and Dillan Peña.

A Public Visitation will be held on Thursday, August 21, 2025, at 5:30 pm followed by a rosary to begin at 6:00 pm in the Sangre de Cristo Chapel of DeVargas Funeral Home in Española, NM. A Mass will take place on August 22, 2025, at the San Juan de Nepomuceno Church in El Rito, NM, at 10:00 am, with burial to follow at the El Rito Cemetery.

The family of Soraida Herrera has entrusted the care of theri loved one to DeVargas Funeral Home and Crematory. 505-747-7477.