Pete B. Cordova

Pete Cordova, a 74 year old life-long resident of Santa Rosa passed at his home Monday, January 7, 2019. Pete loved and had a special bond with his family along with many friends in the community.  He prided himself with working hard and making friends with just about everyone he met, people seemed to enjoy Pete’s humor and friendliness and company. Pete held different service related jobs growing up, from working in the fields of west Texas to the mills in Clovis to working for Manuel Medley at the Comet Restaurant and at Tiffin’s Restaurant, to working for area Ranchers. In his youth there was a demand for construction workers in the community. Pete quickly took up construction beginning with the completion of the I-40. Shortly after I-40 was done, construction began on the Santa Rosa Dam. For years he enjoyed and worked alongside many locals until the Dam was completed. Pete spent his entire adult life working construction with many contractors including Corn Construction, Hamilton Construction, Brown Construction, Sec Rivera Construction, Robert Rivera Construction and GS Construction. After Pete retired he took special gratification with his chainsaw and small engine repair. He enjoyed working on saws, lawnmowers and all sorts of small engine service. Pete enjoyed people, he devoted many long hours filling the needs of many customers that came to the shop, and this brought him years of happiness. Pete enjoyed the outdoors, especially with family and friends. They spent many weekends fishing, hunting, and camping. He especially appreciated artifacts, spending countless hours exploring and making many memorable and cherished moments with family and friends on their expeditions. Pete was always a loving and giving person always willing to help those in need. Born April 23, 1944, the 5th of 11 children born to Andelecio Cordova and Bicentita Barela Cordova , Pete had the greatest respect and admiration for his brothers and sisters. Coming from a large family, they have all been extremely close and have been very supportive of each other.  Many activities and hobbies were shared with many of his brothers and sisters. They all enjoyed each other’s company during family outings or just family get-togethers. He often spoke of the many memories of his parents and their struggle to raise such a large family, He loved his family dearly. He shared many memories of his childhood, among them was of him sneaking candy from the small store that his parents ran out of their home and often got into trouble for it. Pete recalled while out with friends he met a young woman that he affectionately grew close to, he even mentioned to his friend and her brother Charlie (Chio) that someday she was going to be his wife. That young woman, Mabel Moncayo and Pete eventually grew their relationship while the two worked for Manuel Medley at the Comet Drive-In. Pete and Mabel eventually became inseparable making their friendship, love and affection for each other a 55 year commitment. Mabel had three children Peter, Debbie (deceased) and Mary Jane. Pete loved and cherished the three as his own children. Shortly after they began their relationship they had their daughter Yolanda. Pete and Mabel also developed a special relationship with their grandson Daryl who they eventually adopted and raised as their own. Pete and Mabel are blessed with 8 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren. Pete was known to work hard and work like a job was behind schedule, he was quite the go-getter. He was also quite the joker or comedian, he made friends easily and he was always willing to help someone out. Pete took pride in working hard and especially took pride in his home, when he wasn’t at work he and Mabel were always making improvements. He and Mabel loved watching old westerns on TV. If you happened to visit them you were going to have to bear sitting with them to watch a western that they had already watched for the umpteenth time. As Pete makes his passage to touch the face of God he will join with family members  preceded in death; his parents Andelecio and Bicentita,  his older infant sister Paublita, his brother Pat Cordova of Clovis, his Sister Dora of Santa Rosa, his brother in-law Miquel Salazar and nephews and nieces. Pete is survived by his beloved wife Mabel, his children Peter Salazar and his family of Corpus Christi, TX, Mary Jane Chavez and her Husband Ruben of Santa Rosa, Yolanda Cordova Serrano and her husband Ian of Santa Rosa, Daryl Cordova and his wife Jennifer of Sandia Park, NM, his 7 loving grand-children and 12 great-grandchildren. Also surviving are his Brothers and Sisters; Nea Cordova wife of his brother Pat (deceased) of Clovis, NM, Beatrice Cordova Salazar of Santa Rosa, Dorothy Romero and her husband Adolfo of Santa Rosa, brother in-law Manuel Baca husband of his sister Dora (deceased), James "Bozo" Cordova and his wife Anna of Santa Rosa, Frances Cordova Aguilar and her husband Carlos of Albuquerque, Juanita Cordova Tapia and her husband Paul of Clovis, Andalecio Jr., (Andy/Brody) of Santa Rosa, Michael Cordova and his wife Patricia of Santa Rosa, including his loving nephews, nieces, cousins and friends. Serving as pallbearers are his brothers James "Bozo" Cordova, Andy "Brody" Cordova, Michael Cordova, grandsons Nathan Gold, Peter Salazar, Jr., Mario Serrano, Ryan Serrano, and good friend Albert Gallegos. Honorary Pallbearers are his brothers in-law Charlie (Chio) Moncayo, Gil Moncayo, Abel Moncayo, Mike Lowery, Carlos Aguilar, Adolfo Romero, Manuel Baca, friend and neighbor Leroy Campos, family friend Johnny Martinez, and his God-Daughter Rose Romero. A rosary will be recited at 6:00 P.M. on Friday, January 11, 2019 at Saint Rose of Lima Catholic Church is Santa Rosa, NM. His Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:00 A.M. on Saturday, January 12, 2019 at Saint Rose of Lima Catholic Church with Father Sotero Sena officiating. Christian Burial will follow at St. Joseph Cemetery. All services have been entrusted to Chavez Funeral Home, 923 S. Third St., Santa Rosa, NM  88435.  575-472-3369.  To place an on-line condolence, please visit www.chavezfuneralhome.com