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SANCHEZ -- Maria Concepcion "Concha" Sanchez, a resident of Belen, NM peacefully joined our Lord and Savior, angels and saints, ten days shy of her 100th birthday. She was surrounded by her loving family who sang "Happy Birthday" just before her passing on Wednesday, November 26, 2008. Concha was born in Torreon, NM on the Feast of the Immaculate Conception to Juan Bautista Chavez and Aurelia Emilia (Sanchez) Chavez. For the past two and a half years, she was a resident of The Center for Ageless Living in Tome, NM and lived in Belen most of her adult life. She was a member of Our Lady of Belen Catholic Church where she was active in the Spanish Choir, Blessed Sacrament Society, Sacred Heart League and Servite Order of the Servants of Mary. Concha loved her job at The Los Lunas Hospital and Training School where she retired after 25 years of outstanding service. She was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and great-great-grandmother. All who knew her raved about her baked goods, especially her delicious pastelitos and bizcochitos. Her grandchildren and many others still cherish her crocheted afghans. Concha was a woman of deep faith who prayed unceasingly; she never preached or made others feel as though she was judging them. She enjoyed the simple joys of life and gave her gift of unconditional love and unselfishness by teaching others to be faithful, prayerful, patient, forgiving, and compassionate. She was a woman who always found the best in people and she did this without wavering from her strong Christian beliefs. Those of us who knew her will forever feel the stamp of her quiet wisdom. We loved her and will miss her greatly. She was preceded in death by her husband, Raphael Sanchez; infant children, Mary and Jack Lawrence; parents, Juan and Aurelia Chavez; sisters, Lupita Madril and husband, Sabino and Vina Olguin and husband, Gillie; brothers, Antonio Chavez and wife, Florinda, Ezequiel Chavez and wife, Flora, Eutemio Chavez and wife, Ramona, Alejandro Chavez, Edenio Chavez, Max Chavez and Daniel Chavez, Paul Chavez and wife, Juanita George Chavez and wife, Eva, Ray, Benny, and Andres "Andy" Chavez and sister-in-law, Mable Chavez. She was also preceded in death by her loving grandson, Ryan Maes and her loving great-granddaughters, Kierstin Sanchez and Claire Baca. Concha is survived by her two loving sons, Deacon, Norbert Sanchez and wife, Linda of Albuquerque, Alex Sanchez and wife, Milli of Los Angeles, CA; daughters, Dolores Garcia and husband, Joe T. of Belen, Ida Rios of Belen, Sophie Baldonado and husband, Albert of Albuquerque, Lillian Ortega and husband, Frank of Los Alamos, NM; 17 grandchildren; 30 great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren. Also surviving are brothers, Ignacio, whom she raised like a son, Abran Chavez and wife, Joan, Gilbert Chavez and wife, Elsie and sisters-in-law, Ernestina Chavez, Esther Chavez, Mary Chavez and Ophellia Chavez. The family would like to give a special thank you and recognition is graciously extended to her caretakers at Senior Living System and Presbyterian Hospice. Ann and Bill Hancock's faithful visits to our mother every Sunday. It did not go unnoticed and will forever remain in our hearts. Also a special thank you to Dicky Romero who we always referred to as our "other brother" because he always made Mama feel like the special woman that she was. All Services will be held at Our Lady of Belen Catholic Church, beginning with a visitation on Monday, December 1, 2008 from 6:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. with a Rosary to be recited at 7:00 p.m. A final visitation will be held on Tuesday, December 2, 2008 from 10:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. with a Funeral Mass at 11:00 a.m. Officiating at her Funeral liturgy will be Fr. Stephen Schultz. Priests and Deacons of the Archdiocese will also be in attendance to concelebrate Dona Conceptions most Holy Funeral Mass. Interment will follow at Our Lady of Belen Memorial Gardens where she will be laid to rest next to her beloved husband, Raphael. Pallbearers will be Concha's grandchildren, Robert Sanchez, Keith Sanchez, James Maes, Victor Saiz, Christopher Baldonado and Emily Schmidt. Honorary Pallbearers will be Michael Sanchez, Christine Sanchez, Lee Anne Becker, David Sanchez, Catherine Baca, Todd Sanchez, Christi Meeks, Lynn Baca, Anthony Maes, Eric Baldonado and Terri Cannon. Sign Concha's online register book at www.romerofuneralhomenm.com. Romero Funeral Home, 609 N. Main St., Belen, NM.
        Published on: Mon December 01, 2008