Clorinda Saenz, age 81, of Bayard, NM passed away at Fort Bayard Medical Center on May 27, 2017.
She was born on June 1, 1935 to Leonardo Cardenas and Inez Montoya, at their home in Hanover, New Mexico.
Her mother Inez passed away three years after her birth, and for a period of time she was raised by her father.
She felt herself lucky to have been blessed with her second mother, Julia Torres of Fierro, NM. The family made their residence in Santa Rita, NM where the family expanded with the addition of Clorinda's younger half sister Mary Lou. Clorinda and her new mother developed a strong bond of love that never wavered and she was her caretaker until Julia's death in the year 2000.
In 1955, She and Juan Torres Saenz of Santa Rita, eloped and were married in Sunland, New Mexico, and remained united until her death. They started their family in Santa Rita (Ballpark/Georgetown) and later moved to Bayard when the remaining population in town were forced to move due to the inevitable expansion of the Santa Rita open pit copper mine owned by Kennecott Copper Corporation at that time.
After she raised all her children, she decided to work outside the house and rose to the position of Director of the Silver City Senior Citizens Center. She enjoyed reading, dancing (she and her husband were great partners), listening to Spanish music, going to the movies, and watching daytime soap operas. She was a fantastic cook and enjoyed sampling cuisines from around the world during her travels. She had a great sense of humor and her home was always filled with the many friends of the children because she was a welcoming, giving, and fun-loving person She was loved by many and will be missed by all.
She was preceded in death by her daughter Christine and her second child who was born sleeping. Clorinda is survived by her husband Juan, her half sister Mary Lou Watt, five of her seven children, Jordan, Barbara, Susan, John, and Catherine, thirteen grandchildren, four great grandchildren, a daughter in-law and two sons in-law.
The Rosary service will be held at the Terrazas Funeral Chapel, 1 Fort Bayard Rd, Santa Clara, NM on June 1, 2017 at 9am with Deacon David Castanon reciting. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10 a.m. on June 1, 2017 at Santa Clara Catholic Church, 207 S. Bayard Street, Santa Clara, NM with Father Robert Becerra officiating. Burial to follow at Fort Bayard National Cemetery.
The honorary pallbearers will be: Thomas Saenz, Vanessa Saenz, Eric Grijalva, Melissa Gordon, Anthony Grijalva, Joshua L. Saenz, Casey Grijalva, Jason, Jared, J. Christopher, Andrew, Megan, and Joshua M. Saenz.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to: Alzheimer's Association at: https//www.alz.org and Grant County Meals on Wheels.
Arrangements are with Terrazas Funeral Chapels "Trusted care for the ones you love" ~ 575-537-0777.
To send condolences, visit www.terrazasfuneralchapel.com.