Mary Rita Marquez

Mary Rita Marquez, age 67, completed her journey home on March 09, 2017 with her family by her side. She was born on April 26, 1949 to Melecio and Margarita Jiron in Santa Fe, New Mexico. She came from a family of 12 brothers and sisters. She was preceded in death by her parents Melecio and Margarita Jiron, her brothers Joe Jiron Martinez, Tony Jiron, Frank "Pancho" Jiron, Juan Diego Garcia, Juan Melecio Jiron "Gordo" and Manny Jiron, her sisters Irene Vigil, Corrine Navarro, Frances "Pancha” Jiron, and nephews Jerry Anaya, Juan Antonio Candelaria.
She graduated from Santa Fe High School in 1969 as an inducted member of the National Honor Society. She also participated in band. Mrs. Marquez began her nursing career at St. Vincent's Hospital in 1970. The following year she married her high school sweetheart, Julio Marquez, on March 20 and began her family of six children who later gave her many grandchildren and great grandchildren whom she adored.
She received her Bachelor's degree from the College of Santa Fe in 1987.
Mrs. Marquez was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, godmother, aunt, and sister. She loved praying her rosary, praising the Blessed Mother and looked forward to her conversation with Mother Rose from the Carmelites. Her Hispanic traditions, hard work, respect, determination and sacrifice characterized who she was. She taught her children to be strong and to be kind no matter the situation. Mrs. Marquez was a strong yet loving woman who took on any task that was set in front of her; she could and always conquered all of her obstacles in life with grace and certainty.
Mrs. Marquez retired from St. Vincent's Hospital and proceeded to raise her many children and grandchildren. She cherished her life of raising her children in her and god's image. Going to church and kneeling beside her to watch her pray was an honor. To see the passion in her eyes during this and while she was praying her rosary was truly a blessing within itself. The dedication to the church was truly shown by her countless hours of volunteering at St. Vincent De Paul and St. Anne's church to which she loved very much.
As illness began to set into her life, constant hospital trips became a regular. She fought long and hard and refused to leave this earth unless they were on her terms. Her fight continued for a long span of time simply due to the fact of she wasn’t quite ready to leave her beloved family on their own. There was still so much guiding, loving and caring to do for them in her eyes. Her fight finally came to an end when her family reassured her they were going to be okay and she no longer had to be in pain. And so it was finally time to greet her family once again at heaven’s gates.
She is survived by her husband Julio Marquez, children Julie Lovato (Abel), Julio Julian Marquez Jr., Manuel Marquez (Valentina), Jennifer Marquez (Andrew), Matthew Marquez (Antoinette), and Michael Marquez, grandchildren, Abel Lovato Jr, Marika Gonzales, Manuel Marquez Jr, Jeremiah Marquez, Gracie Marquez, Patrick Marquez, Brian Marquez, Arianna Marquez, Andrea Jaramillo, Haley Marquez, Analeise Marquez, Carlitos Aragon, Mariah Aragon, great grandchildren, Avaree Nycole Marquez, Sofia Gonzales, Elena Gonzales, brother, Ray Martinez (Bea), sister Connie Candelaria (Vidal) godchildren, Lupe Anaya, Pete Anaya, Dolores Anaya, Frances Martinez, Estevan Anaya and many loved nieces and nephews as well a special neighbor who watched over her, Carlos Gonzales.
The rosary will be recited on Wednesday, March 15, 2017 at the Rosario Chapel at 7:00pm. The mass will be on Thursday, March 16, 2017 at 10:00 am at St Anne's Catholic Church, with the burial to follow at the Rosario Cemetery.