Chonita Roybal

A rosary for Mrs. Chonita Roybal, of Fort Sumner, NM will be recited at 6pm Friday, July 17, 2015 from St. Anthony Catholic Church in Fort Sumner. Mass will be celebrated at 10am Saturday, July 18, 2015 from the church with Father Christopher Bernabe officiating. Burial will follow at St. Anthony Cemetery. Pallbearers will include Martin Roybal, Christopher Roybal, Michael Robles, Michael Collier, Gary Paul Roybal, Crystal Robles, Eric Roybal, and David Griego. Honorary bearers will be all her grandchildren. Ancesion Chonita Roybal, age 82, passed away Wednesday, July 15, 2015 at Heartland Continuing Care Center in Portales, NM following an illness. She was born August 21, 1932 in Portair, Curry County, NM to the home of Miguel and Victoriana (Lopez) Sanchez. She grew up in Portair and Yeso, NM where she attended school. Chonita married Jose Sylvester Roybal on November 22, 1948 in Santa Rosa, NM. She worked for the Fort Sumner Schools as a bus driver for 14 years, a custodian for 10 years and in the school cafeteria for 4 years. She operated a rural mail route from Fort Sumner to Taiban, House, and Tolar for 20 years, and delivered the Albuquerque Journal in Fort Sumner for 15 years. She also worked for 10 years in the mess hall and fire station at Cannon Air Force Base. She retired in 2005. Chonita was a member of St. Anthony Catholic Church in Fort Sumner, she enjoyed taking care of her grandchildren, making puzzles and working on puzzle books, spending time and taking car rides with her family. She is preceded in death by her parents, a granddaughter Jessica Robles, two brothers Leandro Sanchez and Adolpho Sanchez, two sisters Lucy Roybal, Julia Roybal and a niece Margaret Roybal. Survivors include her husband Sylvester Roybal of the home in Fort Sumner, a daughter Michelle Roybal of Fort Sumner, eight sons Sylvester Roybal Jr. and his wife Yolanda of Edgewood, NM, Victor Roybal of Fort Sumner, Robert Roybal of Fort Sumner, David Roybal of Clovis, Gary Roybal and his wife Ruby of Roswell, Donald Roybal, Tommy Roybal, and Eric Roybal all of Fort Sumner, also surviving are two sisters Esther Zamora and husband Pablo of Fort Sumner and Tina Lopez of Clovis along with 13 grandchildren, 28 great-grandchildren, 4 great-great-grandchildren and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends. All arrangements are under the direction of Chavez Funeral Home, 830 N. Fifth Street, Fort Sumner, NM. (575) 355-2311. www.chavezfuneralhome.com