Amalia "Molly" Talavera

Amalia “Molly” Talavera, 97, of Lordsburg, NM passed peacefully into eternal life on Monday, May 11, 2026 in Las Cruces, NM.

Molly was born on July 10, 1928, in the mining town of Valedon, NM, to Natividad Marin and Natividad Flores. She was the second of six children, helping to care for her younger siblings. She met Juan Talavera in Lordsburg, NM where they were married and built a life centered on hard work, faith, and family. Molly was a devoted member of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Lordsburg, NM. She had a deep faith with a devotion to Mary and San Judas. She regularly prayed the Rosary, and petitioned San Judas for the well-being and safety of her family. She expressed her faith through song, most recently serenading her housemates at Casa Del Sol with heartfelt renditions of the  Las Mañanitas.  After every visit with our Nani, her loved  ones always departed with a blessing.

Molly was a homemaker and a small business owner. She worked hard her whole life and supported her family by raising her daughters, working the fields, and cleaning homes and rooms in motels around town. Her true gift and passion was preparing food for others. In the late 60’s, along with her husband, she opened her food business, selling tortillas, menudo and tamales. In more recent years, the holiday season was the busiest as she prepared and sold hundreds of dozens of tamales and hundreds of pounds of fresh ground masa each year. Molly’s favorite pastime was yard saling. She never ignored a rummage sale sign, or left home without some change to bargain for a good deal. She enjoyed packing some of her finds in the camper and again, with her husband and a grandkid or two, would travel around southern New Mexico—Deming, Columbus, Bayard, Silver City and Las Cruces to set up shop at swap meets and flea markets. Haggling during the day and sitting around a campfire enjoying a meal with her friends were some of her most cherished memories.

She is survived by her daughters: Gloria Cobos and Jane Atilano of Las Cruces, NM; and Rosie Marquez of Lordsburg, NM; her son, Johnny Gomez; her stepdaughter, Marylou Sanchez of Albuquerque, NM. She leaves behind 16 grandchildren, 31 great-grandchildren, 24 great-great grandchildren, 7 step grandchildren, 17 step great-grandchildren, and 19 step great-great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, Juan Talavera; her parents, Natividad Marin and Natividad Flores; her brothers, Jesus Marin and Emilio Madero; her sisters, Rita Mata, Socorro Cuevas and Virginia Chavez; her daughters, Yolanda Gomez and Mary Hood; and her step daughters, Ofelia Arambula and Linda Chavez.

Serving as pallbearers are her son, Johnny Gomez; grandsons, Mark Fausto and Adrian Talavera; and her great-grandsons, Jacob Esquivel, Fabian DeLaO, and Kelley Hood. Honorary pallbearers include her grandsons, Roy Atilano, Jr., Rene Atilano, Cesar Fausto, Lawrence Hood, Chris Cobos, Salvador Melendrez and Felix Rivera; and her granddaughters, Diana Esquivel, Pamela Hood, Mandy Gomez, Stephanie Marquez and Felicity Castaneda: nephews Ruben Madero and Ramon Mata; and niece Anna McCants.

A rosary and prayer vigil will be held on Friday, May 29, 2026 beginning at 10:30 a.m., followed by the Funeral Mass at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 416 East Second Street in Lordsburg, NM.  Concluding services and interment will be at Shakespeare Cemetery.  Fr. Jude Okonkwo will be officiating.

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