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Lorene "Lori" Ann Dieguez (Tecumseh), 58, entered peacefully into eternal rest on Thanksgiving Day, November 23, 2006, after a lengthy battle with cancer. Lori, as she was affectionately known, was a unique woman of enormous talent, energy, humor and devotion to her husband, and legions of friends. Lori was born on August 4, 1948, in Grants, NM, to Julius H. Tecumseh of the Choctaw Indian Nation of Oklahoma and Pablita Ortiz of the Pueblo of Cochiti. She is survived by her husband. Juan Manuel "Manny" Dieguez and her close friends and caregivers, Michael and Lori Baca of Albuquerque's North Valley in addition to numerous relatives from Oklahoma and Cochiti Pueblo. Lori attended St. Mary's High School in Albuquerque, where she was band majorette. Thereafter, she began her career in Federal service with the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) as a Clerk Typist in 1968. She quickly climbed the ladder of success, moving onto such positions as Budget Analyst for the Albuquerque Area Office; Administrative Officer for the Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA) in Santa Fe, NM, Northern Pueblos Agency in Santa Fe, NM, Southern Ute Agency in Ignacio, CO, and the Mescalero Agency insouth central New Mexico. She then became the Superintendent of the Ramah Navajo Agency in west central New Mexico, before going to work at the Office of the Special Trustee (OST), U.S. Department of the Interior in Albuquerque, where she recently retired. Lori had a long, exciting, and distinguished career in service to India people throughout the Southwest. Lori was also a member of the Animal Humane Society and the Arbor Society. One of Lori's greatest attributes was her love and devotion to her husband Manny whom she was married to for 26 years. She was not only a beloved wife, but also an outstanding friend to the hundreds of people whose lives she enriched with her friendship. While the world will certainly never be the same without Lori, we are all the more enriched in our lives to have had the opportunity to walk through life with Lori at our side. She touched the lives of hundreds of her friends and fellow employees for so many years and captivated their lifelong friendships with her intelligence and her outrageous humor. She illuminated a room upon entrance and a party was a sure success if Lori was in attendance. Her everlasting smile, glittering eyes, those long eyelashes, that familiar bouffant, and that familiar laugh, were classic Lori Dieguez. The sun always shined brightest when Lori was around, and indeed, she was the sunshine of Manny's life. While we will greatly miss her, we are content in knowing that she has reached that reward our Creator promised her in Baptism. The family would like to thank the many friends who lent their comfort, support, and prayers to both Lori and Manny during her illness. A Memorial Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Saturday, December 9, 2006, at 12 noon at the Queen of Heaven Catholic Church, located at 5300 Claremont Ave. NE, just east of San Mateo Blvd., with the Reverend Fernando Rubio-Boitel officiating, assisted by Father Edmund Savilla and Deacon Ruben Barela. A reception, fellowship of friends and personal eulogies will take place after the Mass in the adjoining Parish Hall. Cremation has taken place. In lieu of floral tributes, the family asks that contributions be made in Lori's name to the American Cancer Society.
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