Mary Frances Aragon

Mary Frances Aragon Mary Frances Aragon was born on October 11, 1940 in Mora, New Mexico. She passed away on October 17, 2024 at the age of 84. Mary Frances is preceded in death by her parents, Jose (Joe) and Ynez (Agnes) Martinez, and brothers Gene and Joseph. Mary Frances is survived by her husband Juan Aragon; children Luz Aragon (Mark Winter, deceased), Juan Aragon Jr. (Dana) and Joseph Aragon (Rebecca);grandchildren Justin Aragon, Jordan Aragon, Lucia Gregorakis (Ed), Amadeo Aragon, Joseph Aragon Jr, Jacob Aragon and Joshua Aragon; great grandchildren Jayden Reel Aragon, James Fang and Kennedy Aragon; sister Cecille Martinez Wechsler (Jim), brothers John Martinez (Andrea) and Robert Martinez (Betsy); nieces and nephews Christina Velasquez (Toby), Nasha Torres (Raul), John David Martinez, Amelia Martinez, Nina Martinez, Ana Martinez (Christian and son Daniel), Danny Martinez, and Joseph and Lisa Martinez. Mary Frances also had numerous cousins throughout Northern New Mexico.

Mary Frances and Juan Aragon met at Taos High School on the first day of school in 1963. Their meeting sparked a romance that led to their marriage on June 13, 1964. As a married couple, they visited most states within the United States, Canada, Mexico, Spain, China, Philippines and many Caribbean Islands. Juan and Mary Frances celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary on June 13, 2024.

Mary Frances attended school in Mora, graduating from St. Gertrude High School. After graduation she attended Loretto Heights College in Denver, Colorado. From there she joined the Sisters of Loretto Community in Kentucky. After 2 plus years she left the community and attended Mount Saint Scholastica College in Kansas where she earned her Bachelor's Degree. During the summer of 1963 she did graduate work at Adams State College in Alamosa, Colorado. She received a Master's Degree in School Administration and Instructional Leadership from Southeastern College in Durant, Oklahoma. She also received a second Master's Degree in Guidance Counseling and Social Work from New Mexico Highlands University, Las Vegas, New Mexico.

Mary Frances eventually left teaching and become a high school guidance counselor. As a senior guidance counselor, she started a local scholarship program raising over $50,000.00 the first year. Each year, the program grew. On Class Night, her mission was to make sure that every senior who applied for a scholarship received one. If there was a senior who applied for a scholarship and had not received a scholarship, she would ask her husband to write a personal check to present a scholarship to that senior. She knew how important it was for each senior to receive recognition on Class Night, as well as for the parents to be proud of their child. Through her guidance she helped many seniors get accepted to colleges and universities throughout the United States. During her tenure with the Taos Municipal Schools, she sponsored and provided financial support to numerous student activities such as band, cheerleaders, athletics, speech and debate and class projects.

Mary Frances devoted long hours to community service. While living in Taos she was a member of the Town of Taos Fiesta Council, Town of Taos Planning and Zoning Commission, and the Taos County American Cancer Society. She served for about 6 years as Secretary of the Taos Little League during the time that Arthur Martinez, Dicky Chavez and Frank Vigil were coaches and officers. She chaired

successful fundraising activities. One of her memorable projects was a light bulb sale. This project brought thousands of dollars to the league due to big sales from Ernie Blake at Taos Ski Valley and Ken Blair at the Sagebrush Inn. She helped with Kiwanis community projects such as Christmas Baskets for the needy and other projects. She was relentless in her determination to do a good job. She was a friend of Ernie and Rhoda Blake. At one point, she suggested to Ernie that he host free skiing for employees of the Taos Municipal Schools. Ernie designated an annual day of free skiing for Taos Municipal School employees by providing free equipment, half-day of free instruction and a free lift ticket. Mary Frances had interactions with U. S. Senator Pete Dominici, U. S. Senator Harrison Schmit,U.S. Representative Manuel Lujan and Governor Jerry Apodaca. She did TV Ads for Senator Dominici. She hosted socials for the New Mexico Highlands Board of Regents. She hosted a couple of Matanzas for the staff of the New Mexico Department of Public School Finance. She was a member of the New Mexico

Education Standards Commission. In this role she chaired education evaluation committees evaluating high school education programs in New Mexico.

Upon her retirement from the Taos Municipal Schools, in 1995 she accepted a position as school counselor at Northland Pioneer College in Show Low, Arizona. In this position she provided counseling services to Alchesay High School and Cibecue Community School on the Fort Apache Reservation. In 1996 she accepted a position as a Counselor/High School Principal at Cibecue Community School. In 1999 she suspended her employment for 5 years to take care of her ailing

mother.

After Mary Frances' mother passed, she returned to Show Low, Arizona working as a social worker with a hospice company, San Tan Behavior Health Services, and Apache Behavior Health Services in Whiteriver on the Fort Apache Reservation. In 2017 she retired and moved with her husband to Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Mary Frances was a giver beyond measure. She and her husband Juan acquired 13 rental housing properties in the Show Low area. She insisted that the rental fee was low and affordable. She was not interested in making money off of people. If someone was in need she would help. While working on the reservation she helped people by buying fire wood for them in the winter, propane, and helped with travel expenses so that family members could visit sick relatives living off the reservation. She had a friend in Cibecue who wanted to go to Lourdes France so she made it possible by taking her to Lourdes. Upon their return the friend spoke during mass about her experience at the Shrine. Her enthusiasm supported the building of a grotto built on the grounds of the St. Catherine Church.

Mary Frances was a lifelong Catholic. She was a member of St. Gerturde Parish in Mora, Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish in Taos, St. Anthony Parish in Questa, San Francisco de Assis Parish in Ranchos de Taos, St. Rita Parish in Show Low, Arizona and St. Jude Thaddeus Parish in Albuquerque. She and her husband were Mayordomos at Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish in Taos and St. Anthony Parish in Questa. She taught religion classes at Our Lady of Guadalupe, St Anthony and St. Rita. She was a strong supporter of the Annual Pilgrimage for Vocations when Father Mike was the Parish Priest in Questa. When Father Mike was sick with cancer, she told him that she would take care of him during the summer. She moved to Albuquerque to take care of him until his death.

It is said that there is a last time for everything. As Mary Frances was coming to the end of her life's journey, she told her husband that she had given it her best shot. During her final days of hospice, she was at peace surrounded by her family and the sound of Gregorian Music. When her breathing started to slow down, her husband kissed her on the forehead, and placed his hand on her forehead. Shortly

after, she stopped breathing and transitioned to be with her family in heaven.

Funeral services will be held in Mora, New Mexico. The rosary will be recited by the Hermanos on Thursday, November 7th at St. Gertrude Church at 7:00 pm. After the rosary a eulogy will be delivered by grandsons Jacob and Amadeo. An open mic will be available after for anyone wishing to share comments. The Funeral Mass will be held on Friday, November 8th at the same location at 10:00 am. Urn Bearers will be her grandsons. Interment of the cremates will follow at the family cemetery in Las Aguitas, which is about 4 miles from Mora. After the interment a meal will be served at the VFW in Mora.

The family would like to thank the staff of the ICU at Lovelace Westside Hospital in Albuquerque for their professionalism and loving care of Mary Frances during her 11 day stay. The family would also like to thank the Advantage Assisted Living staff for their compassionate and loving care while Mary Frances was in hospice.

The family has entrusted the care of Mary Frances to Rogers Mortuary in Las Vegas, New Mexico. Floral arrangements are being provided by Pam's Flowers, 219 Plaza, Las Vegas, NM 87701. WEBSITE: PAMSFLOWERSHOP.COM. Email: PAMSFLOWERSHOP@HOTMAIL.COM.