Betty P Cordova

Betty Cordova passed away August 8, 2009 at her home in Santa Rosa New Mexico surrounded by her family, following an illness. Betty was born February 14, 1912 in Pintada NM to Rosendo Padilla and Miquela Apodaca Padilla. She was married to Leandro Cordova in 1945, and together they not only raised their two children, Lalo Padilla and Sonia Cordova-Raftery, but also their grandchildren, great-grand children, nephews and nieces. Betty attended Santa Rosa High School then went on to New Mexico Highlands University where she achieved her Bachelors of Education and Masters of Education. She taught early childhood education for 42 years in Pintada, Sombrillo, San Ignacio, Cuervo, Puerto De Luna and finally in Santa Rosa. Betty and her husband also owned three small businesses in Santa Rosa, the Del Rey Café, Borens Truck Stop, Rio Pecos Truck Stop and the Western Auto. She retired from Santa Rosa Consolidated Schools in 1979 to take care of her husband Leandro Cordova when he fell ill with a stroke. Betty was the matriarch of the family and was loved by all. She was always ready to help whoever needed it; whether it was as a caretaker, a teacher, or a Catholic Daughter, it did not matter she always had an open home and an open heart. Betty was preceded in death by her husband Leandro Cordova, parents Rosendo Padilla and Miquela Apodaca Padilla, brothers Lauriano Padilla, Antonio Padilla, Ramon Padilla and his wife Emilia Barela Padilla, Maguin Padilla, Jose Padilla, Carlos Padilla, sisters Estella Gomez and husband Fermin Gomez, Victoria Garcia, a daughter-in-law Ramona Padilla and grand-daughter-in-law Rosie B. Padilla. Betty is survived by her a son, A.F. Lalo Padilla; daughter Sonia Cordova-Raftery and husband Timothy Raftery, her brother Bennie Padilla and his wife Lorraine Padilla, her sister-in-law Condra Padilla and her nephew Maguin Padilla. Grandchildren, Luis Padilla, Albert Padilla and his wife Deborah Padilla, Maria Eliza Romero and her husband Mike Romero and Hiram Morales. Her great-grandchildren, Dennica Padilla Torres and her husband S. Matthew Torres, Julia Sanchez, Christopher Leyba, Erica Padilla, Janell Padilla and her fiancé Rudy Navarro, Samuel Padilla and Annie Padilla; and finally, her great-great-grandchildren, Darion Rose Faulkner, Ciana Rose Faulkner and Enmarae Rose Torres. Rosary services were held Tuesday, August 11, at 7:00 PM from Nuestra Senora de Refugio Catholic Church in Puerto de Luna, NM. Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated Wednesday, August 12, at 11:00 AM also from Nuestra Senora de Refugio Church with Father Joseph Thomas, CMI officiating. Burial followed at St. Joseph Cemetery. All services are entrusted to the Chavez Funeral Home of Santa Rosa. To place an online tribute log onto www.chavezfuneralhome.com.