Candelaria Cordova

Longtime Vaughn, NM resident Candelaria Cordova, 81, passed away Wednesday, November 13, 2019 in Ruidoso Downs, NM following an illness. She was born February 13, 1938 in Vaughn to the home of Benito and Rosa (Garcia) Gutierrez. She grew up in Vaughn where she attended school and graduated from Vaughn High School in 1958. Candelaria married Manuel Cordova on September 1, 1962. They raised their family in Vaughn, Candelaria worked for many years as a clerk at  Peoples Store. Candelaria and Manuel owned and operated the Club Cafe in Vaughn for five years. She was a lifelong member of St. Mary's Catholic Church where she served as a Church counter after Sunday Mass. She enjoyed watching her T.V. Novelas, and making baby blankets for her grandchildren. Candelaria always had a pet cat or dog to keep her company. She moved to Ruidoso Downs, NM in 2015 to be near her family. Candelaria is preceded in death by her parents, her husband Manuel Cordova on December 20, 2013, and three brothers, Avelardo, Benny, and Jimmy Gutierrez. A loving mother, grandmother, sister and aunt, she will be missed by her family. Survivors include two sons Manuel Cordova Jr. and wife Annette of Ruidoso, NM, Steve Cordova and wife Sheri of Los Lunas, NM, five grandchildren Cassandra Cordova of Alamogordo, Manuel Cordova III of Phoenix, AZ, Bernadette Cordova of Alamogordo, NM Jakob Cordova of Los Lunas, NM and Jasen Cordova of Los Lunas, NM. Also surviving are three brothers Angel Gutierrez (Rita) of Grants, NM, Lester Gutierrez (Lucy) of Weatherford, TX, Albert Gutierrez (Margie) of Santa Fe, NM, a sister Mickey Sanchez (Leonard) of Ruidoso Downs, NM, and her fur baby chihuahua Princess, along with a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends. Holy Rosary will be recited at 10:00 am Saturday, November 16, 2019 followed by the Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00 am. Services will be held at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Vaughn, NM with Father Leonard Paskus officiating. Burial will follow at Evergreen Cemetery in Vaughn, NM. Pallbearers will be Manuel Cordova III, Ezequiel Sanchez, Jakob Cordova, Jasen Cordova, Patrick Gutierrez Jr., and Andrew Gutierrez. Honorary bearers will include Albert J. Gutierrez, and Brian Gutierrez. All arrangements are under the direction of Chavez Funeral Home, 830 N. Fifth Street, Fort Sumner, New Mexico. (575) 355-2311.