Maria Petrita Villanueva

Maria Petrita Villanueva

April 13, 1923 - August 28, 2025

Born in Gonzales Ranch NM to Margarito Sena and Anita Urioste, Petrita was their only child. When Petrita was 3 months old, her 18-year old father, traveling home from work in Kansas, was killed by hobos and thrown off the train near Maxwell, NM.

From being an only child, Petrita became a member of four incredibly large families - the Baca's, the Sena's, the Urioste's and the Villanueva's. And then she went on to create her own dynasty.

Her mother remarried to Julio Baca Sr. Petrita gained a stepfather, 4 step-siblings (Julio, Berardo Jose, Benito and one sister, Eloisa Arguello) and 6 half-siblings born thereafter (Bersabela, Rudolfito, Florentino, Erlinda, Josie, and Julia).

She grew up with both of her families in Lovato and in Gonzales Ranch with her grandfather Juan Sena and her 9 aunts and uncles. Uncle Miguel Sena was a father figure to her throughout his life. Her aunts, Mela Villanueva and Rita Montoya treated her like a sister. Three Sena aunts married Villanueva brothers.

Petrita also married a Villanueva, commingling into another large family of 12 brothers and sisters in-law. In addition to celebrating 62 years of marriage, Petrita and Florian raised 11 children and Della, a granddaughter raised like one of their own.

She is preceded in death by her husband Florian, sons, Leroy and Piedad and daughter, Juanita, who died in infancy. She lost one granddaughter (Annabelle Jaramillo), one great grandson (Michael Villanueva), one great-great grandson (Joel Jaramillo) and five great-great grand babies who passed at birth (Veronica, Nayelie, Christina,Mariana, and Mathias). Three son in-laws also preceded her in death (David Quintana, Joe Jaramillo and Raymond Aragon).

Petrita is survived by 9 precious children to carry on her legacy, her faith and love of family: 6 Daughters (Margaret Jaramillo, Elizabeth Sena (Louie), Alice Aragon, Lucille Quintana, Lorella Rivera (Mark), Dolores Villanueva), 3 sons [Rudy (Eva), Jimmy, Bobby Ray (Lettie)], and daughter-in-law, Josie Villanueva.

In addition to her 9 children, she leaves in your care 28 grandchildren, 51 great grandchildren, 45 great -great grandchildren – bringing the grand total of this dynasty to 133 over 5 generations. Three sisters, Eslinda Bustamante, Josie Baca and Julia Gallegos, also survive her.

While life treated her with incredible health, travel and a long life, it wasn't an easy path. She was the wife of a WWII soldier. He later worked for the Railroad throughout NM leaving her to raise a growing family and to care for the farm during the week. She was in a horrific auto accident that nearly took her life. She was trapped by the terrible Roswell floods of 2024.

At no time did she see the need to panic! Her faith in God provided her the needed calm and resolve. Petrita prayed a rosary without fail every night. She ended all of her prayers with a request, "Te pido que tengas a todos mis hijos en Tu quidado. Ya sabes quiénes son." ("I leave all of my children in your care - You know who they are.") She went to her eternal rest immersed in peace, holding and praying her rosary.

She survived the many difficulties with determination, resilience, and importantly, with a protective, caring family that enabled her to live to a wondrous age of 102!

We will miss you, dearest Mom. Be at Peace. Thank you for being ours.

Serving as pallbearers, granddaughters: Francine Rivera, Jessica Villanueva- Gonzales, Michelle Villanueva, Emily Renteria, Louisa Sena, Floriana Acosta, Luana Quintana, Anita Villanueva and Deborah Jaramillo. Honorary pallbearers will be her grandchildren.

Services will be conducted at Nuestra Senora de Guadalupe church in Villanueva, NM with Rev. Vincent Dominguez as celebrant, on Saturday, September 13, 2025, as follows: Viewing: 9:00 am; Rosary & Eulogy: 10:00 am; Mass: Following the Rosary Burial: A private family ceremony will take place at a later date

Arrangements have been entrusted in the care of Rogers Mortuary, 600 Reynolds Ave Las Vegas, NM 87701. (505) 425-3511.

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