Lee Navarrete Quintela

Lee Navarrete Quintela was a caring and beautiful wife, mother, grandmother, sister, and friend. She left this world on May 24th, 2023, at the age of 78 after a courageous battle with brain cancer. She was surrounded by her closest loved ones who will continue to honor her fiery spirit and keep her memory alive.

She was born to Leon Navarrete and Petra Lopez Navarrete on May 8th, 1945 in Carlsbad, NM. After graduating from San Jose Catholic school, Alta Vista Junior High, Carlsbad High School, and Beauty School, she married Arcadio V. Quintela. Together, they had 2 children: Ereyna and Randy. Lee spent much of her life in Tucson, Arizona, helping raise her granddaughters, Anais and Alessandra, and being a faithful servant of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church. During her many years there, she was a catechism teacher, eucharistic minister, bereavement committee member, and volunteer, helping to organize fundraising events, delivering meals and assistance to those in need, and working closely with St. Vincent de Paul. She was always ready to lend a helping hand.

Lee loved spending time with her family, serving Christ, the color purple, a good game of "palitos" (or cards), enchiladas, and could always be counted on to dance to a good song. She is preceded in death by her father and mother, Leon Navarrete and Petra Lopez-Navarrete, her son, Randy Quintela, and her sisters Nellie Alvarez and Simona Dye. She is survived by her husband of 57 years, Arcadio "Archie" V. Quintela, daughter, Ereyna Benelli (Michael Benelli), granddaughters, Anais Quintela (Matt Martinez), Alessandra Quintela-Lemings (Dean Lemings), and Gianna Benelli, and her siblings: Katy Crago, Zeke Navarrete, Alicia Monta?ez, and Leon Navarrete. She will be missed more than words can say.

A rosary vigil is scheduled for Thursday, June 15th at 7 p.m. and a funeral mass is scheduled for 10 a.m. on Friday, June 16th, 2023 at San Jose Catholic Church followed by a burial at Sunset Gardens in Carlsbad, NM. In honor of Lee, the family has asked attendees to wear the color purple if possible. In lieu of flowers, please donate to the National Brain Tumor Society on her behalf.