Elma Ortega

With great sadness and heavy hearts, we announce the passing of Elma V. Ortega, who entered eternal life on March 21, 2025. She was born in Nambe, NM, to her parents Jose Inez and Esquipula Valdez. Later she moved to Chimayo with her beloved husband, Merejildo (Mel) Ortega. Elma and Mel recently celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary in November 2024. Elma was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, aunt, and friend.

Elma lived her life on a foundation of her catholic faith. Her most cherished memories were volunteering at El Santuario de Chimayo, where she cleaned the chapels and helped tourists who visited the shrine, giving short tours and sharing the history of our beloved El Santuario. She was a member of the Guadalupanas, the Carmelites, and the Holy Family Association of Chimayo. Elma volunteered alongside Merejildo to support the VA Hospital by transporting Veterans to Albuquerque. In her earlier years, Elma worked as a housekeeper in Los Alamos and later worked as a competitive salesperson and manager at Montgomery Wards in Santa Fe, Anthony Department store in Espanola, Rancho de Chimayo, and The Apple Shed. She enjoyed meeting new people and made lifelong friends everywhere she went.

Elma’s greatest happiness came from the love she shared with her siblings and from traveling with her husband, sisters, brother, and their spouses. They travel to Mexico, California, Laughlin, Las Vegas, Colorado, Spain, Italy, and the Holy Land. They enjoyed visiting and spending time together in each other's homes. She spent time with her children during family gatherings. Many of those gatherings involved living out her faith, which she passed on to her family, in baptisms, confirmations, birthday celebrations, as well as Christmas and Easter.

Elma was preceded in death by her parents Jose Inez and Esquipula Valdez, father and mother-in-law Anastasio and Grabielita Ortega, son Ricky Ortega, infant twins, step-grandson Jimmy Vigil, sisters and brothers-in-law Celia and Flavaino Herrera, Ruperta and Teofilo Lopez, Amelia and Emeterio Vigil, brother and sister-in-law Benny and Castelita Valdez; in-laws Arturo and Clara Ortega, Roger Ortega, Harold Ortega, niece Joann Ortega, Cleo Herrera, and nephew Michael Ortega, Ernie and Gerard Vigil, along with numerous cousins and friends.

She is survived by her beloved husband of 70 years Merejildo Ortega; daughters Nila and Ray Montoya, Orlinie and Sammy Velasquez, and daughter-in-law Roberta Ortega. Grandchildren Olivia Martinez, Desiree Velasquez, Destiny and Derek Salazar, Matthew Montoya, Isaac and Jacqueline Montoya; step grandson Mark Vigil; Great-grandchildren include Vanessa, Dario, David, Bryan, Allie May Martinez, Elijah Velasquez, Donovan and Divinity Salazar, Brianna, and Aliyah Montoya; Sister Mary and Roque Martinez, in-laws Leo Ortega and Betty, Tom and Helen Ortega, Linda Ortega, and Grace and Eddie Trujillo. Elma is also survived by dear friends who she spoke to by phone almost daily, Minny Vigil, Lita Ortiz and Helen Martinez and many dear nieces and nephews and friends, too many to mention.

A public viewing will be at DeVargas Funeral Home in Espanola, NM, on Tuesday, April 1, 2025, at 5:00 p.m., followed by a wake service and rosary at 5:30 p.m. The Mass of Christian Burial will be held at Holy Family Church in Chimayo, NM, on Wednesday, April 2, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. Burial/interment will be held at the Veterans National Cemetery in Santa Fe on Thursday, April 3, 2025, at 9:00 a.m.

Serving as pallbearers will be Ray Montoya, Sammy Velasquez, Matthew Montoya, Elijah Velasquez, Dario and David Martinez and Derek Salazar

Honorary pallbearers are her Grandchildren and all her nieces and nephews, who she loved dearly.