Veneranda Cordova

Maria Veneranda Cordova, age 89, passed away May 16, 2004 at the Laurel Meadows Nursing Home in Belen. Maria was born February 25, 1915 in Puerto De Luna, NM to the home of Marcelino and Doloritas Padilla Ocana. She was reared and attended schools in Puerto De Luna. Maria married Agapito Cordova on June 2, 1931 in Puerto De Luna. She and her husband made their home in Puerto De Luna where they farmed and ranched for many years. Maria was a member of Nuestra Senoria de Refugio Church in Puerto De Luna and St. Rose of Lima Church in Santa Rosa and the Sacred Heart Sodality. Maria loved to play bingo, scrabble and loved to go dancing with her husband Agapito. She is preceded in death by her parents, her husband Agapito, her son Phil Cordova, her brothers and sisters, Charles Gerhardt, Jessie Gerhardt, Ben Gerhardt, Frank Ocana, Francisquita Luna, Isabel Abeyta and Juan Ocana. Survivors include her children Orlando Cordova and wife Louise of Phoeniz, AZ, Alfredo Cordova of Santa Rosa, Zulema Flores and husband Santiago of Phoenix, AZ, Robert Cordova and wife Mary of Santa Rosa and Lucille Zamora and husband Rudy of Belen, her sister Teofila Lopez of Puerto de Luna. Also surviving are 20 grandchildren, 34 great grandchldren and 4 great great grandchildren along with numerous nieces, nephews and a host of relatives and friends. Rosary services will be recited on Tuesday, May 18, at 7:00 from St. Rose of Lima Church in Santa Rosa with Deacon Rudy Zamora leading the prayers. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Wednesday, May 19 at 10:00 AM from Nuestra Senora de Refugio Church in Puerto de Luna. Burial will follow in the family plot at Nuestra Senoria de Refugio Cemetery in Puerto de Luna. Serving as Pallbearers will be her granddaughters , Kathryn, Flora, Joyce, Sandra, Julie, Anna, Stella, Monica, Cindy, Robbie and Bernadette. All services are entrusted to the Chavez Funeral Home of Santa Rosa. For online condolences go to www.chavezfuneralhome.com.