Emma Atencio Our Nana

Emma Pineda Atencio our Nana, passed away May 22, 2020 at age 93. She lived a long, happy, life filled with love, family and friends. Emma was preceded in death by the love of her life, her husband of 66 years, Alfonso Gilberto Atencio, her parents Abel and Eduvijen (Romero) Pineda, her sister Lydia García and brothers José, Levi, Alfonso, Ernesto and Orlando Pineda, close friend and sister-in-law, Celina (Atencio) Carrillo, and brother and sister-in-law Toby and Cora Atencio. She is survived by daughters Annabella and husband Robert Fresquez of La Mesilla, Ruth and husband Dr. John Ray Gutiérrez of Albuquerque, former son-in-law Roy Montoya of Española, and sons José Atencio and wife Yvonne of Española and Alex Atencio and wife Blanca of Albuquerque, as well as 11 grandchildren, numerous great-grandchildren, sister Sarah (Pineda) Gutiérrez of Albuquerque, brother Sammy Pineda of Albuquerque, and a special niece, Ruby (Pineda) Nielson, of Provo, Utah. Emma was born June 6, 1926 in Dixon, New Mexico. At age 15, Emma began working at Embudo Hospital, the same year she first met Alfonso. Through the war years, she held jobs at La Fonda Hotel in Santa Fe and in Los Alamos. Upon his return from service in the South Pacific, Emma married Alfonso in 1946 at John Hyson Presbyterian church in Chimayó. Emma had a beautiful singing voice and instilled a love of music in her family. She loved tending to her beautiful garden of children and grandchildren. She filled our life with song and dance, and she made the best tortillas in New Mexico. She never missed working out with The Jack Lalanne Show for as long as it was on the air, was always a fashionable dresser and was a successful “Avon Lady” for over fifty years. For as long as they were able, Emma and Alfonso attended services every Sunday among friends and family at Velarde’s United Methodist Church. Her favorite hymn was C. Austin Miles’ “In the Garden,” which she’s surely singing now:

And He walks with me and He talks with me

And He tells me I am his own

And the joy we share as we tarry there

None other has ever known.

Emma’s family wishes to thank the entire staff at Sombrillo Nursing & Rehabilitation Center in Los Alamos for their years of compassion and love for our mom and Nana. Public visitation will take place on Friday, May 29, 2020 from 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. in the Chapel of Peace of DeVargas Funeral Home & Crematory. There will be no graveside service due to COVID-19 restrictions at the Santa Fe National Cemetery. The family has entrusted the care of their beloved Emma Pineda Atencio to De Vargas Funeral home & Crematory of the Espanola Valley. 505-747-7477-www.devargas.com