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Ophelia Sisneros Sanchez, 86 1/2, a lifelong resident of the State of New Mexico, and a loving mother and grandmother, died in Albuquerque on Tuesday, October 3, following a long illness. She was born in Alcalde, NM on March 25, 1914. Preceding her in death were her husband, Augustine J. Sanchez; her parents; her brothers and sisters. For four months she was a widow. She's the last of her immediate family! While in Alcalde they were very close to the United Brethren in Christ Church and Mission School. There she learned to be a and become church pianist and also served as Church Sunday and Vacation Bible School teacher. They grew to love and serve the church! So much so that when they moved from Alcalde they enrolled and left their oldest son at the Mission School to room and board and attend school with teachers, Misses Langdon and Shaefer! Big influences on their lives were the late missionary, Lula M. Clippinger, dear friend, Ethel G. Davis and the Reverend Doctor Nichols who married them in the Vallecitos Evangelical United Brethren Mission Church where Lula was then serving. She became very much a helpmate to her beloved husband to whom she was married for over 70 years. Early on she worked in the Alcalde Ranch and then as substitute for the Rio Arriba County Schools. And not only did she raise five children and adopt two, but she also worked, along with him, in a dude ranch, a dairy and drive-in. Then not only did they come to supply and serve in several Northern New Mexico Mission Churches, but she served as pianist and leader of the Spanish Services group associated with Santa Cruz Evangelical United Brethren Church now Santa Cruz United Methodist Church. Along with her husband, she was also appointed to serve as Home Missionary by the then National Division of the Board of Missions of the Evangelical United Brethren Church to McCurdy Mission School. She is survived by three sons, The Reverend Harold and spouse Audelia of Albuquerque, Frankie and spouse, Carolina of Espanola, Carlos and spouse, Pat of Cincinnati, OH; two daughters, Florencia Howe of NYC, NY, Edith O'Farrell and spouse, Dale of Tijeras; two adopted sons, Delano Santa Fe, and Loel and spouse, Debra of Los Angeles, CA; and some 25 grandchildren, the same number of great-grandchildren; many nieces and nephews, and other relatives and friends. Services were held in the Espanola Valley at 6:0 p.m. on Thursday, October 5, with Funeral on Friday, October 6. Interment was that day at Loma Vista United Methodist Cemetery in Alcalde in the cross section reserved for home missionaries. In death too, like her spouse, she returned to be buried next to the mission location of the then known Alcalde United Brethren in Christ Mission Church where she was a member and served for many years!
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