Juanita Rodriguez Pacheco

Our beautiful, brave, selfless, beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and aunt, Juanita R. Pacheco, 89, of Deming entered into eternal life to be with our Lord Jesus Christ at her home in the loving arms of her family on Sunday, October 3, 2021 at 9:00pm.

Visitation will begin Wednesday, October 6, 2021 from 4 to 5 o’clock in the afternoon at Baca’s Funeral Chapel. Recitation of the holy rosary will be recited at 6 led by Suzanne Lundy. Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated Thursday, October 7, 2021 at 2 o’clock in the afternoon at St. Ann’s Catholic Church with the rite of committal and interment to follow at Mountain View Cemetery. Fr. Jesus Martinez will officiate.

Juanita was born February 20, 1932, in Gage, NM, which was a railroad camp that was just east of Deming, while her father worked for the railroad. Years ago, when she was just a little girl of 11-12 years old, Juanita began working alongside her mother to help support her family in the wake of her father's tragic death in Texas while he was working on the railroad. He was buried in Big Spring, TX, as the family was unable to pay to bring his body home to Deming for burial. She helped support the family by working with her mother as a seamstress, and then as a waitress at The White House Cafe in the late 1940s, that used to be on Pine St. After she was married, she worked for Auburn Rubber Co. here in Deming. She proudly was also an Avon district leader for more than 20 years in Deming. Then she devoted more than 20 years while she was a manager of Snappy Mart stores in the area. After this, she worked for Deming Public Schools in the main cafeteria where she poured her heart into serving the children of Deming. Juanita was a member of the American Legion Bataan Post No. 4 in Deming for more than 20 years and volunteered at the Deming Luna County Senior Citizens Center for a decade. She will be greatly missed by all those who knew and loved her. Lord give us the strength to carry on where she is not. Heaven truly gained the most beautiful Angel upon her passing from this life into the next, and we can only imagine the joyous reunion that took place as she was finally able to see her firstborn, Sammy Pacheco once again.

She is survived by her devoted, loving husband of 70 years, Florentino (Lilo) Pacheco Jr. of the home; 3 strong daughters, Mary Frances (Wayne) Leupold of Farmington, NM, Melissa (Micheal) Daniels of Vallecito, CO, and Margaret Smelser of Thornton, TX; 6 amazing grandchildren, Penny Leupold (Franklin) Brown of Provo, UT, Amy Leupold of Farmington, NM, Heather Daniels (Jacob) Forsman of Cortez, CO, Micheal Daniels II (Emma Leenerman) of Fruita, CO, Amber and Jarrett Smelser of Thornton, TX; and by 6 beautiful great-grandchildren, Parker and Jocelyn Brown of Provo, UT, Aubrieana, Ashlynn and Austin Forsman of Cortez, CO, and Jace Daniels of Fruita, CO.

Juanita was preceded in death by her son, Sammy Pacheco, who died in a hunting incident, in 1967; her parents, Luis and Juanita Rodriguez; and siblings, Maria, Felica, Angela, Thomas and Augustin.

Serving as pallbearers will be Wayne Leupold, Micheal Daniels, Heath Collard, Eddie Lee Holguin, Ernie Rodriguez and Scott Chandler.

In her memory, in lieu of flowers please donate your time and compassion to helping a veteran or senior citizen in need of friendship, companionship, or other needs. Her heart was as big as the world itself. Please spread love and think of her as you do. Rest in Paradise.

The family would like to thank her caretakers, Gloria R. Madrid, Phyllis Lawthorn, Marta Hernandez and Maria DeAnda.

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