Manuel Pedraza Almanza, 82, lifetime Deming resident, passed away Saturday morning, July 26, 2014, at his home.

Visitation will be from 3 to 5 in the afternoon, Tuesday July, 29, 2014, at Baca's Funeral Chapels and the vigil service and rosary will be held at St. Ann's Catholic Church at 7 o'clock led by Guillermina Macias. Mass of the Christian Burial will be celebrated Wednesday morning at 11 o'clock also at St. Ann's. The rite of committal and interment will follow at Mountain View Cemetery. Fr. Ron Machado will officiate.

Manuel was born in Deming April 13, 1932 to Eulogia Pedraza and Isidoro Almanza. He attended Deming Schools and served in the U. S. Army. On March 26, 1960 he married Romelia Rodriguez in Deming. He was a communicant at St. Ann's Catholic Church where he was very active in the church organizations, namely, St. Ann's Men's Club, League of the Sacred Heart, Cursillistas and was an accomplished guitarist in the church choirs. For over 29 years he was the custodian at the parish. He retired from the sanitation department with the City of Deming after 30 years.

He is survived by his wife, Romelia of the home; 2 sons, Manuel Almanza Jr. and wife Carmen and Richard Almanza and wife Leticia of Deming; 5 daughters, Cecilia and husband Gilbert Solis of Deming; Irma Almanza and partner Guadalupe Parra of Phoenix, AZ; Elizabeth and husband Matias Granillo, Carolina and husband Ernesto Carrillo and Lourdes Almanza and fiancé Chris Miller all of Deming; 8 sisters, Juanita Dominguez, Monica Perez, Margarita Almanza, Lily Rodriguez and Ramona Rodriguez all of Deming; Adelaida Loya of Las Cruces; Katie Rodriguez of Tucson, AZ and Alice Sedillo of Los Angeles, CA; 2 brothers, Johnny Almanza of Midland, TX and Isidoro Almanza Jr. of Los Angeles, CA; 23 grandchildren, 38 great- grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.

Preceding him death were his parents; granddaughter, Melissa Ann Almanza; brothers-in-law, Joe Rodriguez, Pepe Perez, Jesus (Chuy) Rodriguez and Max Loya.

Serving as pallbearers will be Gilbert Solis, Orlando Almanza, Tony Aguilar, Rene Granillo, Fabian Perea and Alex Almanza.