Erlinda Luna

d. December 09, 2015 Erlinda M. Luna, age 85, died peacefully at home Wednesday, December 9, 2015. She was born on June 12, 1930, in Tierra Amarilla, NM, to Abel Sánchez and Carolina Manzanares de Sánchez.  After graduating from the Normal School in El Rito, NM she married Gilbert Luna on September 27, 1948.  The first years of her marriage were lived in Los Angeles, CA where her first four children were born.  Returning to NM she and Gilbert made their home in Albuquerque where her two other children were born.  She dedicated herself to being a homemaker for her family, was noted for her cooking and loved to bowl.  Later she was employed as a cook and then clerked in retail till she retired.   She cherished her grandchildren and showered them with love and affection.  A devout Catholic she gave witness to her faith in her prayer, worship and actions.  She helped with parish fiestas and served as a Eucharistic Minister to the hospitalized.  For years she ran the bingo at the North Valley Senior Center with the help of her husband.  After his death her health declined due to congestive heart failure yet she still strove to make people laugh through her jokes and humor—an endearing trait she had throughout her life. She was preceded in death by her husband Gilbert; daughter Luella; great granddaughter Carolina Sofia; brothers José Benito and Abel Sánchez.  She is survived by her children: Gilbert and wife Connie, Msgr. Lambert Joseph, Valerie Branch, Melissa and husband Donnie Reams, Mark Anthony and fiancée Julie Francis; grandchildren: Naomi, Adriana and husband Beto Sánchez, Gilbert III, Matthew and wife Evonne, Rachel and husband Doug Chunglo, Mary Ruth Córdova; great grandchildren: Taj, Willow, Adiana, Mateo, Magdalena, Kennedy, Zion, Lucía, Juliana and Lily. Visitation will be on Sunday, December 13, 2015, from 3:00 p.m. until 4:00 p.m. at St. Joseph on the Río Grande Catholic Church, 5901 St. Joseph Drive NW, Albuquerque, NM  87120, with prayer of the Rosary at 4:00 pm.  The funeral Mass of the Resurrection will be celebrated on Monday, December 14, 2015, at 12:00 noon, at St. Joseph on the Río Grande Catholic Church.  Cremation will follow the Mass with burial of the cremated remains at a later date.  Pallbearers will be Beto Sánchez, Doug Chunglo, Gilbert Luna III, Matthew Luna, Taj Malik;  honorary pallbearers Naomi Luna, Adriana Sánchez, Rachel Chunglo, Evonne Luna, Mary Ruth Córdova. La familia también quiere extender las más sinceras gracias a María Ornelas por la solicitud con que cuidó a nuestra madre en sus últimos años de vida. In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be made to the St. Vincent de Paul Council of St. Joseph on the Río Grande Parish in keeping with the Jubilee Year of Mercy.To sign Mrs. Luna's guest book, please scroll down and fill out the comment box.Thank you,The Gabaldon Family & Staff

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