Antonio E. Garduno

Our beloved brother Antonio E. Garduño (Tony) entered Eternal Rest on May 8, 2025. Tony was born November 3, 1946 in Las Vegas, New Mexico to Geronimo Garduño and Antonia Garcia Garduño. He was the 10th child in a family of 19 children.
As a very young boy Tony developed a keen sense of what he needed to do to make an honest living for himself, and at the same time help his parents provide for a large family. We can't explain how he knew, he just did. Despite Mom's scolding due to concern for his safety and welfare, at the age of six he wanted to go sell newspapers, and on several occasions somehow managed to sneak out of the house and went to "work". He was going to do what he set his mind on to accomplish his goal. Under the mentorship of Pete Garcia, Las Vegas Daily Optic circulation manager, Tony had his dream job. He was only all too happy and proud telling us all about how many customers he had, and how they waited to buy the Optic from him. As he grew older he not only sold newspapers after school, but also helped his oldest brother Pete deliver early morning newspapers such as the Denver Post, the New Mexican, and the Albuquerque Journal. Tony shined shoes in the barbershops along Douglas Avenue and Bridge Street. He asked to clean people's yards, paint houses, shovel snow, and chop wood. He bussed tables, washed dishes and cooked at the local Home Café, State Café, and Columbia Restaurant. There was no chore too big or too hard to do.
Tony wasn't trying to earn money to spend on trivial things but instead brought home his pennies, nickels and dimes to Mom to help his family. He recruited his younger brothers, reluctant or shy as they were, to follow suit and tutored them with the same dedication. He made frequent visits to help his Tia Ofelia, and his grandparents Pedro and Adela, to chop and bring in wood for them as they needed. He helped his Grandma Valeria sell tamales, and she gave him a dime for every dozen he sold. He was always looking for the opportunity to find a job for any of us kids whether we wanted one or not. After high school, he worked in construction jobs, and other places too numerous to mention. The phrases "I can't," "I won't," and "I don't know how," had no bearing on his ability to get things done. He was a happy, respectful, and outgoing young man trying his best to create a place for himself in the world and through his examples tried to show his brothers and sisters to help take care of each other.
By the time Tony was 20 years old, he was employed as an aircraft mechanical parts manager for Boeing Aircraft in Seattle, Washington. He bought his first home, had married and was expecting a son. His dreams and plans came to a tragic end in a drowning accident 10 months after he married, and three weeks before his son Kenneth was born. He suffered a devastating brain injury that left his long-term memory mostly intact but suffered the loss of his short-term memory and his physical capability. Despite the severe impairment to his mind and body and many other setbacks throughout his life, Tony was a survivor and had a strong will to live. He never gave up. He gave it all he had not knowing why he couldn't do what he had intended for his life. His will to survive and his faith in God gave him the strength to continue his life as it was. If one hadn't met Tony or didn't know about his life before the accident, one missed out on the most caring, hardworking, loving, sharing, compassionate, no-nonsense, selfless person that he was. Our hearts are broken, but are so happy that he is Home with Mom. Mom was always on his mind and in his heart. It was difficult for him to realize that she couldn't be by his side anymore. Tony will live on in the hearts and memories of those who cared for him and took the time to know his heart, and to understand the effects of his injury.
Tony is preceded in death by his parents Geronimo and Antonia, brothers and sisters Pete Garduño and his wife Marilla, Isabel Garduño Chavez and her husband Manuel, Jerry Garduño, Edwina CristelaGarduño, Juan Bautista Garduño, Maria Elena Garduño Montoya and her husband Carlos, Daniel E. Garduño, Gilbert R. Garduño Joe D. Garduño, and Leo A. Garduño. He is also predeceased by his maternal grandparents Higinio Garcia and Valeria Montaño Garcia, paternal grandparents Pedro Garduño and Adela Lucero Garduño, and beloved Tia Ofelia Garduño Rivera. Also preceding in death is a sister-in-law, Beatriz Martinez Garduño
The family left to cherish Tony's memory are his son Kenneth A. Garduño of Albuquerque, brother Ray B. Garduño and his wife Andrea Mauldin Garduño; his sisters and their families, Alice Gallegos and her husband Donald, Viola Garduño, Edwina Gallegos, Rose Mary Garduño, and Rose Ann Trujillo all of Las Vegas, NM, Della Gonzales and her husband Rosalio of Arlington, Texas, Lorraine Hernandez and her husband Fred of Pueblo, CO, his sisters-in-law Elma Montoya Garduño of Thornton, CO, Antonia Garduño of Las Vegas, NM, Patricia Garduño of Los Lunas, NM, and many nieces, nephews and cousins.
Special thanks to his long-term caregiver Judy Esquibel, CNA for her unwavering and compassionate care of Tony. We also acknowledge ANVOI Hospice staff Corrine Esquibel RN, and Devirae Gallegos CNA, plus many others who were there for us. We thank Fr. Rob Yaksich for the comfort and blessings he provided.
Services for Tony will take place at Our Lady of Sorrows Church in Las Vegas with recitation of the holy rosary on Wednesday, May 28, 2025 at 6:00pm, and Funeral Mass on Thursday, May 29, 2025 at 9:00am. Following the Mass, interment will take place at the San Jose Cemetery. Serving as Casket bearers will be Rita LaPointe, John Baca, Ruby Lovato, Gloria Gallegos, Ofelia Lucero, Dennis Garduño, Timothy Gallegos, and Trini Gallegos Jr. Honorary bearers are Ray and Andrea Garduño, great-great nephew, D.J. Romero, caregivers Judy Esquibel, and Patrick Gurule, and Tony's remaining nieces and nephews.
Arrangements are entrusted to and under the care of Rogers Mortuary 600 Reynolds Ave Las Vegas, NM 87701 505-425-3511 or 1-800-479-3511.
Please visit our online website www.rogersmortuarynm.com to sign the online register book.
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