Mary Madeline McReynolds

Beloved mother, saya (grandmother), sister, and ko'oe (auntie), Mary Madeline (Sanchez) McReynolds - born as Maria Madelina and known to her friends and family as Maggie, Yodo Pe Povi, Saya, Dodo, or Aunt Dodo - passed from this life on July 6, 2024, at her home at the Pueblo de San Ildefonso in Santa Fe County, New Mexico. She was 89 years young. Her mind was sharp and her beautiful eyes sparkled to her final few days.

Maggie was born at San Ildefonso Pueblo, New Mexico, on May 29, 1935, to Abel (Oqwa Pi) and Pomasena (Cata) Sanchez. She is the great-granddaughter of Jose and Catalina Sanchez of P'ohwogeh Owingeh and Jose and Maria (Oruchi) Cata of Ohkay Owinge. Although things were not always easy, Maggie had a joy-filled childhood at the Pueblo.

Maggie grew up living on the east side of the Rio Grande in the winter months, in her family's home on the Pueblo's plaza, where her mother would make fresh tortillas each day and was strict about attending Mass each Sunday. The family would relocate to the west side of the river in the summer months, wading across the clear, shallow water. Although the river now runs persistently turbid, as a girl Maggie was able to see her delicate feet as she crossed. Swimming and enjoying the river was a part of everyday life, which she and her siblings would do as the summer days grew hot, typically having risen before 4 am to tend to the family's farm. The family stored cheese in their well to keep it cool, and travelers would stop for water and to purchase homemade bread and jam or cheese. Maggie is a graduate of Pojoaque High School.

Maggie and Thomas Hiram McReynolds (Mac) were united in marriage on December 31, 1965 in the Cathedral Basilica of Saint Francis of Assisi, Santa Fe, New Mexico. Maggie and Mac's courtship began after Mac hit a bull - one that happened to belong to her father - late one night on Highway 30, when traversing Pueblo land. In their nearly sixty-year marriage, Mac and Maggie grew and deepened in love, endured more than their fair share of hardship, and were delighted to share two children together whom they loved dearly. Together, Maggie and Mac served as sponsors for the marriages of Dave and Gina Nashalook and Peter and Theresa Pino (now Thomas). Maggie, Mac, and their two children resided in her home, just off of Highway 30, at San Ildefonso Pueblo. She survived this life for over 11 weeks after Mac's passing on April 30, 2024.

In addition to supporting Mac in his career as educator, coach, athletic director, and principal, Maggie was an avid Dodgers and Yankees fan, loved Christmas with a zeal and embraced the spirit of giving, enjoyed traveling and adventures, and remained an enthusiastic Mouseketeer at heart throughout her life. If Mac could be said to have served as the outward facing foreign minister of the family, Maggie was the undisputed inward facing Prime Minister. She ruled all family affairs with a strong, steady, and loving hand. Maggie was tough, surviving a stress-induced heart attack in her early forties and, later, breast cancer, and fought hard for her family when she felt it was necessary. She was known for her generosity and for making beautiful Indian shirts and dresses, enjoying sewing well into her 80s, and each fall canning, roasting green chili, and making apple butter. Throughout her life she remained steady, resilient, and grounded.

Maggie's primary joy and focus was always, beyond question, her family. She loved freely and deeply, and loved all her children, grandchildren, cousins, nieces, and nephews tremendously. It was common to hear her say that she loved someone so much that she felt her heart would burst. Maggie was pre-deceased by so many who meant so much to her, including her parents and her sisters Marie (Ree Ree) Martinez (Dennis) and Anacita (Annie) Martinez (Frank), half-sister Crucita Gonzales Calabaza (Sandy), her brother Ramos Sanchez (Gertie), and her grandson Jason Abel McReynolds. Maggie is survived by her children Russell Sanchez and Stephanie Diane McReynolds (both of San Ildefonso), Thomas Jason (TJ) McReynolds (Maxine) of Los Alamos, New Mexico, and her grandchildren Joseph Xabi McReynolds and Tamsin Jennifer McReynolds; her brothers Joseph Gilbert Sanchez (Kathy) and Joseph Facundo (Poste) Sanchez; Godchildren Pamela Naranjo, David Nashlook; Liana Sanchez, Felicia Martinez, Katerie Martinez, and Brenda McKenna; and countless additional nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends and family, all of whom she loved deeply.

The McReynolds family would like to thank Compassus Hospice, the staff at Presbyterian Hospital in Albuquerque and Fiesta Park Wellness & Rehabilitation Center, and Anna Cordova for the care they provided to Maggie in her relatively short final stretch, as well as DeVargas Funeral Home & Crematory of the beautiful Espanola Valley for the support they provided. Maggie is laid to rest at San Ildefonso Pueblo.