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Memorial Keepers(1)
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Trisha Gonzales
Wilfred Leyba
October 1st, 1951 - May 7th, 2023
October 1st, 1951 - May 7th, 2023
With great sadness and heavy hearts we announce our beloved Wilfred passed away peacefully in Santa Fe, NM on Sunday, May 7, 2023. Wilfred Leyba, 71, was a resident of Arroyo Seco, NM and formerly of Ojo Sarco, NM. He was a wonderful son, brother, uncle, husband, father, Pampo, and friend who loved his family and friends and he will be greatly missed. Wilfred was the eighth son born in Embudo, NM on October 1, 1951, to Bernabe and Carlota Leyba. Wilfred met his wife Dianne in 1971 and they were married for 44 years. Wilfred had four daughters: Christine (Joe Rodriguez), Franchesca (Jonathan Romero), Trisha (Joey Gonzales) and Felisha (Cody Martinez).
Wilfred graduated from Penasco High School in 1970. Upon graduation he worked in Colorado, Wyoming, the mines in Grants, New Mexico, and California. He eventually returned to New Mexico where he began a lifelong career driving trucks starting at Espanola Transit Mix. He moved his family to Edwards, Colorado in 1980 where he worked for B&B Excavating for many years. Upon returning to New Mexico in 1988 he returned to Espanola Transit Mix. A few years later, he began working in Santa Fe at Colony Materials, Western Mobile, LaFarge and Waycor. Wilfred returned to Espanola Transit Mix in 2016 and worked until 2021. Wilfred made many life-long friends in the 51 years of being a truck driver. Besides his passion for his family, Wilfred took great pride in his cement projects, caring for his trucks and home, his household companions Ginger and Loki and his football games that involved the Denver Broncos or Patrick Mahomes.
He is preceded in death by his parents Carlota and Bernabe Leyba; brothers Herbert, Jimmy, Nick, Luciano, Benito, Ruben, and Harold Leyba; nephews Danny Montano, Joel Leyba, David Leyba, and Mario Martinez.
He is survived by his wife, daughters, son-in-laws, grandchildren Marissa (Matthew Valdez), Alyssa, Adrianna, Larissa and Alexis Rodriguez; Danielle, Stephanie and Natalie Romero; Arianna (Andres Sotelo), Devina and Joshua Gonzales; Penelope and baby Martinez; Great grandchildren Giovanni and Salem Sotelo; God children Louise Caldera, Daniel Tillman, Alyssa Rodriguez, Analeigh Caldera, and Adrian Chavez; Special nieces and nephews Anthony and Esther Griego, Edwin Leyba, Nancy Munoz and Louise Caldera, April and Marie Leyba, Paul and Sandra Leyba, Annie Bernham, Shirley Ortega, Lee Ortega, Rachel Arguello, Merlyne Ortiz, Yvonne Ortega, Wilfred Ortega as well as numerous nieces and nephews; Sister-in-laws Mary Leyba, Nora Leyba, Edwina Martinez, and Berlinda Williams.
Services will be held on Saturday, July 1, 2023, at Holy Family Catholic Church in Chimayo, NM. Rosary will be at 1:00 pm and funeral mass will begin at 2:00 pm. Pallbearers will be grandson Joshua Gonzales, son-in-laws Joe Rodriguez, Jonathan Romero, Joey Gonzales and Cody Martinez. Honorary pallbearers will be Ron Catanach, Larry Pacheco, Larry Medina, Patricio Lopez, Mark Kehler, Martha and Felix Quintana.
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Tributes
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Grace Martinez
Diane and family, So sorry for the loss of your beloved husband, dad, grandpa, and friend. My thoughts and prayers are with you Grace
Libbie Pacheco
Diana and Family, I am so sad to hear of another classmate passing away. Even tho I never really saw Wilfred after we graduaded {maybe once or twice} I still remember him from school and the senior pictures .I was previleged to meet you Diana and very happy to see Wilfred again at the Trampas cemetary [not a very good place to see one another} but at least I got to see him again and to meet you. You guys struck me as a very happy couple just by your laughter and ----I just could see that you guys were so happy' Diana I know you and your family will miss him dearly so I pray that our LORD AND SAVIOR will comfort you during this.painful time. May Wilfred rest in loving peace in the arms of our SAVIOR JESUS CHRIST. May GOD bless all of you and comfort you all. LIBBIE PACHECO
Tanya Angelique Maestas
Fran, Trish, Christine, Felicia and of course Dianne I am so very sorry to hear of Wilfreds passing. I know how close you all were. He was so good to us when we went over. He was such a sweet man. I pray God wraps his loving arms around you and brings you comfort during this most difficult. Love. Tanya
Monica Roybal
Diane, Christine, Fran, Trisha, Felicia and family, My sincere condolences to you all. When I met Christine many years ago and became friends, your whole family welcomed and included me in many family gatherings. Wilfred was always kind, friendly, funny and had a good, happy nature. I could sense the love and closeness he had with his family; I admire that in all of you. God bless you and know I’m sending prayers.
Anthony R Griego
Tio, I have so many fond memories of you. One memory is when you tio were showing me how to drive a vehicle for the first time. I was so scared behind the wheel of your car. I had never driven a vehicle before in my whole life. I was very confident that nothing was going to happen with you tio as my passenger. I was around 13 or 14 years old at the time. My tios vehicle was a 65 old light blue chevelle. He named it berretta, in Colorado at the trailer park. Where my tio and tia and cousin Christine who's like a sister lived. Another memory I have is my tio and I were on the way back to where my tia Dianne, mom, dad and other family members were. It was a place in Truchas that my mom, dad and sister had planted. My tio was driving my three wheeler and I was sitting behind him. A car was coming my tio made a sharp curve we both flew off the bike into the ditch. My tio was the one that got the worse of it. My tio cut his head and nothing happened to me I guess. This is the day I was heading to Colorado with my tio, tia and cousin for the summer. Thank you for always being there throughout my life. He had a special name for me (Tony). With Love your nephew Anthony R Griego AKA Tony (Antonio)
Monica E Griego
Tio Wilfred, You were true to me and my favorite. I enjoyed your great sense of humor and there was never a dull moment with you. I enjoyed talking to you and my aunt Dianne about anything. You and my aunt Dianne would listen to my troubles and offer solutions to them. I know the wisdom and encouragement and inspiration was from the heart. It's so heartbreaking that I never got the opportunity to tell you goodbye. I will always love you dearly and feel so fortunate to have you in my life tio. If only I could have the chance to see your face once more or to hear your voice one final time. I promise to keep with me the memories of the two of us in a motorcycle and how lucky I have been to have such an amazing uncle like you. I also promise to visit your resting place often with flowers. I've gotten this image in my head when heaven calls me home were in a motorcycle riding into the clouds towards the pearly gates of heaven. Keep shining bright in heaven so you can light my way. Thanks you tio Wilfred for being my favorite uncle. Your loving niece Monica Esther Griego
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