Manuel Jose Maestas

Manuel Jose Maestas, 89, a resident of Rio Chama, New Mexico, passed away on March 2, 2021.  Manuel was born to Patrocinio and Juanita Maestas on May 3, 1931.  Manuel grew up in Santa Fe, NM and then moved to Rio Chama where he lived and raised his family.  Manuel worked in various industries in Oakland and Long Beach CA finally working and retiring from Johnson Controls Industries (JCI) as a heavy equipment operator in Los Alamos.

Manuel is preceded in death by his son, Manuel Maestas Jr. and daughter-in-law Jeanette, his parents Patrocinio and Juanita Maestas, brothers Leo, Ernie, and Johnny; sisters, Mary, Bernice, and Margaret; son-in-law, Donald Archuleta; grandchildren Beverly Trujillo and Rhonda Maestas; grand daughter-in-law Crystal Maestas, great-grandson, Eric Romero; and mother of his children Vitalia Maestas.

Manuel is survived by his children, Vickie (Archie) Maestas, Helen Archuleta, Mary (Lito) Trujillo, Larry (Sandra) Maestas, and Cathy (Antonio) Guerrero.  Sister, Lucy Fazzio of Vancouver, Washington.  19 grandchildren; 41 great-grandchildren, and 10 great-great-grandchildren.

Special thanks to caretakers Virginia Pacheco, Vangie Lopez, and Lenora Augilar.  Thank you to Father John from Holy Cross Parish for coming out to administer the final blessing.

The holy rosary will be prayed for Mr. Maestas on Friday, March 19, 2021 at the Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church in Espanola, NM at 12:30PM. Funeral mass to follow at 1:00PM and the interment thereafter at the cemetery of Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church.