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Alyce Major Zancanelli, born March 17, 1917, in Socorro, NM, peacefully passed away at her Los Lunas home with her loving family at her bedside on July 15, 2007 after a long illness. She was preceded in death by her husband, Charles Zancanelli; her daughter-in-law, Jeannie and grandson, Harry Hill; her brother, Duncan K. Major; and sister, Eugenia Major Dixon. Alyce is survived by her son, Charles Hill of San Diego, CA; stepdaughter, Phyllis Zancanelli of Pueblo, CO; grandchildren, Edward and Gregory Hill and Christy Hill Spurgeon; nine great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild, all of California. Alyce has five surviving brothers and sisters, Helen Graham of Miles City, MT, Malcolm "Buddy" Major, Jr. of Highland Meadows, NM, Kenneth Major of Belen, NM, Maria Major Linsey of Los Lunas, NM and Johanna Kennedy Major of Albuquerque, NM. Alyce, the eldest of eight children of Malcolm S. Major and Lily Field Major grew up on a large New Mexico ranch called "Rim Rock" near Wild Horse north of Datil, some seventy miles from the nearest town. Her maternal grandparents, Nelson A. Field (former New Mexico State Land Commissioner) and Ida M. Field came to New Mexico in the late 1860s, building a large ranch near Alamo, New Mexico, north of Magdalena. Her paternal grandparents were from New York City. Alyce was an accomplished horse woman, talented in all areas of running a ranch, able to put together a sumptuous meal in the kitchen after a full day working with cattle, horses, branding, and the multiple business tasks necessary to keep a ranch going. She was an avid gardener, a voracious reader, played the piano and enjoyed writing poetry. Growing up on an isolated ranch far from the city, schooling was always a challenge. Alyce was home-schooled, and also attended Mount Carmel Boarding School in Socorro and Loretto Academy in Santa Fe. She was sent to live with relatives in Greenville SC, attending school there and graduating from Clearwater High school, in Clearwater, FL. After graduation she married Charles Hill of Aiken, SC and lived briefly in the East. Returning to New Mexico, Alyce married Harry Marmon of Laguna, NM (deceased), and then spent most of her later years in Walsenburg, CO with her husband, Charles Zancanelli (deceased). When in recent years she became home and largely confined to her chair, Alyce became the "communications center" of her large family, responding to daily phone calls, keeping records of all family birthdates, marriages, addresses, etc, reading a wide range of daily newpapers, magazines, books, and keeping family informed of events, news, interesting items and practical information. Alyce was one of a dying breed of old time New Mexico ranch women, hughly resourceful and highly skilled across a range of home, ranch and business tasks. Alyce held a deep faith in God, a love for her church, and received friendship and consolation from her San Clemente Parish in Los Lunas. She will be deeply missed by her large family and friends. A visitation will be held at San Clemente Parish, on Wednesday, July 18, 2007 at 12:30 p.m. with a Funeral Mass to be celebrated at 1:00 p.m. Interment will follow at San Clemente Catholic Cemetery. Sign Alyce's online register book at www.romerofuneralhomenm.com Romero Funeral Home, 609 N. Main St., Belen.
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