Esther Raya Obituary
Esther A. Raya, born on October 24, 1940, passed away peacefully on January 29, 2026. She was the beloved daughter of Antonio Santistevan and Carmelita Garcia.
Esther was known for her vibrant spirit and cherished her hobbies, which included visiting casinos, traveling, gardening, and spending time with her loving family. A devout Catholic, she enjoyed playing bingo and was often the life of the party with her joyful sense of humor.
She is survived by her devoted husband, José Raya, and her children, Daborah (Sergio) Rangel, Catherine (Bernardo) Roybal, Angelina (Pete) Purdy, Shantel (Neev) Sandoval, Alex (Ruth) Ford, Bernie (Laura) Ford, and Eric Ford. She was also blessed with 29 grandchildren, numerous great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren.
Esther is remembered fondly by her brother, Joe Santistevan, and sister-in-law, Sandy. She was preceded in death by her parents; Antonio Santistevan and Carmelita Garcia Santistevan, five sisters; two brothers; her daughter, Nadine Ford; and her grandson, John Gutierrez.
Services for Esther will include a viewing and visitation on Thursday, February 12, 2026, from 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM at Romero Valley Funeral Home in Alamosa. A rosary will be held on Friday, February 13, at 9:30 AM at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Alamosa, followed by a Mass of Resurrection at 10:00 AM. Interment will follow at the Alamosa Cemetery.
To leave online condolences, please visit romerofuneralhomes.com.
The Care of arrangements has been entrusted to Romero Valley Funeral Home of Alamosa.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
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1407 State Ave, Alamosa, CO 81101
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