Photo courtesy of Alderette Pomeroy Funeral Home, Inc. - Raton
Feb 8, 1932 - Mar 6, 2024
To my beloved Madrina, Tía Elena, I will truly miss you, and my heart is grieving because I couldn’t be there for your home going. I will miss our visits and our chats over the phone. I loved that we could talk about anything, and you were truly like a second mother to me. Rest in peace my beloved Tía.
Beverly Williams
May 11, 2024 | Placentia, CA
Sincere Condolences & Sympathy for the loss of your loved one Helen, may she rest in peace. God bless everyone! Los Esquibel, Romero, y Maestas.
Angela Esquibel
May 08, 2024 | Raton, NM | Acquaintance
May Your Dear Mother Rest In Peace! Prayers for your Family! She Was A Very Wonderful Person! GodBless You All!
Ruth Moreno/ vigil
May 07, 2024 | Pueblo, CO | Acquaintance
I'm going to miss calling her.
RIP with Jesus, my dear sister. Always in my heart love you
Lafie Lopez
May 05, 2024 | Alcalde, NM | Sister
I miss you so much Mama. You are always going to be right here by my side. Te Amo Mucho ♥
Cyd Veale
May 05, 2024 | Surprise, AR | Family
Maria Elena (Helen) Garitson (nee Nolan)
Helen was born on February 8, 1932 in Miami, New Mexico. She peacefully entered heaven on March 6, 2024. She is survived by her children Debra Garitson Decker, Cyd Veale, Carl Garitson (Patricia), Leslie Simmons (Rick), Phillip Garitson (Julie), 14 grandchildren, 23 great grandchildren and two great great grandchildren. She is also survived by three sisters, Julia Sanchez, Elvira (Vera) Montoya and Rafaelita (Lafie) Lopez as well as numerous nieces and nephews.
Helen was preceded in death by her father and mother Filadelfo and Emilia Cruz Nolan as well as seven brothers and a sister as well as an infant sibling.
Helen was one of 13 children. She attended Miami School until the 8th grade and graduated from Springer High School in 1950. She married in 1951 and had five children.
Through hard work and determination, she graduated from beauty school in El Rito and opened up Helen’s Beauty Salon in Springer. In addition, she also worked as a cook in the Springer schools.
As a child, she and her sisters would help their mother tend to the garden. They would can what they harvested from the garden and store the canned items in their cellar.
Helen loved to cook and bake. She also crocheted in her spare time. Her cooking and baking specialties were tamales, biscochitos and fudge. Her enchiladas were also a family favorite.
She was a regular at the Springer Senior Center where she enjoyed playing Bingo and going to the casino. She was also a faithful member of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Springer.
Services will be held on Tuesday May 28th at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Springer, NM. Rosary will begin at 10:00 AM with Mass to follow. Interment will be at the Springer Cemetery.
Helen will be missed immensely by everyone.
Arrangements for Helen Garitson are under the direction of the Alderette-Pomeroy Funeral Home.
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