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DE GEER -- Bennie Esquivel De Geer, age 93, died peacefully at home in San Francisco, CA on May 18, 2009. She was preceded in death by her husband, Ralph; sisters, Lola Nabors and Ruth Esquibel; and brothers, Barney Esquibel and Silvestre Esquibel. She is survived by her only daughter, Emilia De Geer; and beloved son-in-law, Sudhir Puri, of San Francisco; sisters, Marian Esquivel of Albuquerque, Femia Bustamante and husband Jim, of Santa Fe; and brother Medardo Esquibel of Albuquerque. Bennie, the eldest sibling of the late Eugenio and Emilia Esquivel of Socorro, was born and raised in La Joya. The family moved to Socorro, and in 1937 Bennie was elected to the office of County Schools Superintendent. There she met her husband-to-be while he was working for the WPA. Little did they know what an amazing adventure was in store for them. Not only did they travel world over, they also spent 13 years in Venezuela and five years in Iran, before settling in San Francisco where Ralph later retired from Chevron Oil. It was in San Francisco that Bennie became an active community organizer working for senior citizen causes as a VISTA (Peace Corps) volunteer. Later, under the auspices of a joint program of the San Francisco Sheriff's Department and The Salvation Army, she worked in community outreach counseling evicted seniors and families. Although Bennie and Ralph left Albuquerque to live overseas after the birth of their daughter in 1947, she carried and spread the spirit of New Mexico wherever she went. An invitation to one of Bennie's enchilada dinner parties was among the most sought-after in town. And, whether in Caracas, Tehran or San Francisco, the family celebrated Christmas by preparing and sharing the festive specialties of her beloved land. Per her wishes, Bennie is coming "home." A Funeral Service, officiated by Deacon Tom Perez, will be held at San Felipe de Neri Church in Old Town on June 29, 2009 at 10:00 a.m. Honorary pallbearers present -- or present in spirit -- will be her niece, Juanita Prewitt of Albuquerque, and nephews, Richard Esquibel of San Francisco, Alan Nabors of Seattle, WA; J. Bustamante, Frank Esquibel and Martin Esquivel, all three of Albuquerque. Committal of Bennie's cremated remains takes place at the National Cemetery in Santa Fe, June 30, 2009 at 11:00 a.m., when she will rejoin her beloved husband in eternal rest.
        Published on: Sun June 21, 2009