Maxine Elwell

Maxine (Tita) Crestela Elwell, age 87, born November 13, 1929, in the mountain village of Chilili, New Mexico, and a lifelong resident of Albuquerque, passed away peacefully in the company of her family on Friday, September 8, 2017.   Maxine is survived by her loving husband of 68 years, Johnny F. Elwell; sons, William A. Elwell and wife, Ruth; Patrick L. Elwell;  daughters, Nancy A. Sandoval and husband, Joseph, Theresa M. Lovato and husband, Phillip; siblings, Edwin Sanchez and wife, Gloria Jean, Raymond Sanchez and wife, Mary Jean; sister, Gloria Ann Fitzgerald and Peter T. Gonzales.  Maxine’s proudest family gems are her seven grandchildren, Tyler S. Elwell, Brett M. Elwell and finance, Kaleigh W. Behe, Tory M. Rojas and husband, Bryan, Jennifer A. Esquivel and husband, Elijah, Isaac J. Sandoval, Jacob A. Sandoval and Kaitlyn A. Lovato.  Most recently Maxine was blessed with the smallest of her gems, her first great-granddaughter, Laynee Jade Rojas.   Maxine, is also survived by many nieces, nephews, cousins, extended family and close personal friends.   Maxine was preceded in death by her parents, Sosten and Veronica Sanchez and her brother, Anthony Ray Trujillo.   Maxine was an original member Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary Catholic Church Altar Society.  Her former employments were as a civilian employee with Sandia Army Base and she was a founding member of the Albuquerque Public Libraries Bookmobile program, which distributed books to young children in rural developing areas in the city of Albuquerque.  Maxine attended Longfellow Elementary School, Lincoln Junior High School and was a 1947 graduate of the original Albuquerque High School.  Maxine also attended St. Joseph’s Catholic Teacher’s College, later known as the University of Albuquerque.   A visitation will be held Tuesday, September 12, 2017 from 5:30 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. at Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary Catholic Church, 5415 Fortuna Rd. NW with a Rosary to follow at 6:00 p.m. Final visitation will be Wednesday, September 13, 2017 from 8:30 a.m. until at 9:00 a.m. at Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary Catholic Church, 5415 Fortuna Rd. NW, Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 9:00 a.m.  Pallbearers will be Tyler S. Elwell, Brett M. Elwell, Isaaac J. Sandoval, Jacob A. Sandoval, William A. Elwell, Patrick L. Elwell.

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