Elmer Sanchez

This is a tribute to our husband and dad Elmer Sanchez. Our dad was born on June 22, 1940 to Manuelita and Nicomedes Sanchez in Llano Largo, New Mexico. Together they had 8 sons. Elmer was the oldest of the eight. Later Manuelita gave him a younger sister and Nicomedes gave him a younger brother. As we write this Eugology for our dad there is so many wonderful things we want to say about him. While growing up, my dad spent a lot of time in the mountains with his brothers. Being the eldest, he always felt responsible especially for his three brothers that he helped raise. Our dad liked the idea of being able to boss them around. While his dad worked at the “borrega” he was the chief in charge of the little ones. He made sure that all of them had a chore to contribute. He was a father figure to them. Eventually he became the patriarch to all his younger siblings. They respected him and loved him more than anything. His loving demeanor was everything. He never had to say a word but they all knew he loved them. In 1961, he met the love of his life, his blue-eyed blonde spitfire. Although she had a mind of her own, he was ready to take on the challenge. He married our mother on July 13, 1961 in Taos, New Mexico. I cannot explain the kind of marriage that our parents had. To put it lightly it was one that only story books talk about. They were inseparable, where you see one you’d see the other. In 1962 they had their first daughter Sandy which all of us know as Sandra. She was a blessing to them and they decided to have two more daughters, Shirley and Debra. Looking back at our lives we knew we were blessed at having such wonderful parents. As the leader of our family, he taught us that family was the core of true happiness. He made sure we were around our uncles, aunts, and cousins. We would go on weekly family camping trips where all the family would get together and enjoy each other’s company. Everyone that joined in would be considered family. As our dad and husband we wanted for nothing. Dad was always there for us in both body and spirit, showing us by his living example. He showed us it was possible for a man to show tenderness to be unafraid of having open affection with his children and wife. It is impossible to talk about our dad without also speaking about our mother because together they showed us what true love was like. They taught us what a true marriage should be. Dad loved us all more than he loved himself when it became too hard for him to live on, the pain that was the greatest for him was never his own, but rather the pain of having to leave us behind. At tragic times like this many families worry about all the things left unsaid and are not brave enough to say them and run out of time. We were blessed because our dad’s openness and his expression of love for us was always said both ways. He knew how much we loved him and what he meant to us. We loved him and kissed him and told him every time we were with him. He loved our mother with all his heart and made sure she knew how much she meant to him. Our dad was our protector, our inspiration, our source of strength but most of all the leader of our family. Yes, our dad’s journey was a long and painful one but we have comfort in that we did our best. We thank you God for giving him to us. We will always love you and will miss you dearly. Our dad is proceeded in death by his grandparents Macedonio and Epifania Sanchez and Tranquilino and Antonia Lovato, his father Nicomedes Sanchez, his mother Manuelita Montoya, his step-father Cresencio Montoya, his brother Jerry Sanchez and his beloved Uncle Clofes Sanchez. He leaves behind his loving wife of 56 years Florence, his loving daughters’ Sandra and her husband Sammy, his daughter Shirley and her husband Michael and his baby daughter Debbie all of Penasco, New Mexico. His loving grandchildren Rachel and her companion Randy, Hilarie and her companion Jonathan, Noah and his companion Kristen, his loving grandson Zacharias, his grandson Patrick and his companion Tabitha; his loving granddaughter Holly; his great-grandchildren Alyssa, Lexxy and Patrick. His loving brothers Ben and his wife Gladys from Thornton, Colorado; his brother Manuel and his wife Joann from Thornton, Colorado; his brother Nick from New Jersey; his brother Eddie and his wife Evan from Brighton, Colorado; his brother Joe and his wife Epimenia from Penasco, New Mexico; his brother Max from Commerce City, Colorado, his brother Johnny from Izba, Spain and his beloved sister Diana and her husband Joseph from Brighton, Colorado and many loved nieces and nephews. We would like to thank our family and friends for all your support and prayers that you gave up to the Lord for our dad. Many thanks to his doctor, Dr. Gould, for his home visits and his loving care, to his nurses many thanks and God bless you all. Without you we would not have been able to make him comfortable. Thank you Jennifer, for all your support and being there for our family. Dad you were here for our first breath and we were here for you as you breathed your last breath. We know that you will be here for us when our time comes. What a joy it will be when we see you as you greet us. See you later. Rosary was recited September 8, 2017 at San Antonio de Padua Catholic Church in Penasco. Funeral mass was held on September 9, 2017 at 11 AM at San Antonio de Padua Church. Serving as pallbearers are his grandchildren. Honorary pallbearers will be his great-grandchildren. With this we would like to express our love for you with a poem entitled “The Greatest Hero.” The Greatest Hero This world has many heroes, some you’d know by name. They give their best at what they do so they deserve their fame. But among all the heroes in this world has ever had, there is not one admired more than the guy tha