Obituary for
Annie Maestas (Marrujo)
Annie Maestas, 99, passed away peacefully on April 30, 2017. She was born in El Carmen, NM ion March 19, 1918, the second child to Gregorio Marrujo and Julia Lucero Marrujo. Her life on the ranch was difficult after her mother and a very young brother passed away. At the age of about 11, Annie had to take care of her family, her father and two brothers. She quickly learned and ran the household until her father remarried Emuelia Herrera when Annie was about 16. She also manager to attend the one room school house while having some fun with her cousin Josie Lucero. She was a lifelong resident of Las Vegas, NM. Moving from El Carmen when she turned 18.
Soon after moving to Las Vegas, she met her husband, Carlos Maestas. They were married in 1940 and raised their family of four children, Charlie, Elaine, Diane, and Cindy. During WWII Annie kept their home going with 2 children, including some of his business concerns. She also provided/shared her home with a cousin and her family. After WWII Carlos became an extraordinary businessman in Las Vegas plus being a member of the San Miguel Sheriff’s Posse. Carlos passed away suddenly at the age of 52. Again, Annie’s strength was needed. She stepped up to run his concerns including 2 ranches and raised her family as a widow for 49 years.
She was a homemaker and mother. She believed so strongly that the children should always come first in life. Along with raising her four children she raised a granddaughter or two, plus many of our friends who counted her as a second mother if not just their mother. Many she encountered during her life felt this way about this remarkable woman. I cannot count the times I have been asked, “How is my madrina?”
Annie was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and great-great-grandmother. Her unconditional love of her family will be remembered and cherished by us forever. We can only hope to follow her example. She was a devout lifelong catholic and a member of Our Lady of Sorrows Church in Las Vegas, NM. Without much education, she was extremely intelligent, bright, capable of anything. Her intuition was legendary as was her reputation for being tough and funny. She was loved and admired by everyone she met. Her couple of years in California were no different. Everyone she met there loved her and will miss her terribly.
Annie was preceded in death by her parents, Gregorio and Julia Marrujo; step-mother, Emuelia Marrujo, her husband Carlos Maestas; her brothers, Jose Maria, Jocob, and Gregorio Marrujo Jr; a sister Eva Martinez; brother-in-law Canuto Martinez; and a sister-in-law, Alice Marrujo. Annie is survived by her children; a son Charlie Maestas of San Diego, CA; daughters Elaine LeVine and husband Henry of Tarzana, CA, Diane Maestas of Las Vegas, NM, and Cindy Maestas of Taos, NM; her grandchildren: Cathy Maestas of Wisconsin, Robert Sanchez of Las Vegas, NM, Charles LeVine and wife Teal of Manhattan Beach, CA, Samantha Espinda and husband Walter of Albuquerque, NM, Lori Hogue and husband Tom of Albuquerque, Michelle Bachert of Las Vegas, NM, Christopher Gilman and wife Rachel of Durango, CO, and Jennie Gilman of Anchorage, AK; great-grandchildren: David Sandoval of Albuquerque, NM, Chistina, Charlie, and Ollie LeVine of Manhattan Beach, CA, Jonathan and Kayla Bachert of Las Vegas, NM, Irene and Leonard Salazar of Greeley, CO; also four great-great-grandchildren; brothers: Gilbert and Johnny Marrjjo and wife Esther of Albuquerque, NM; a sister, Marilyn Lujan and husband Eddie of Las Vegas, NM; a sister-in-law Berlinda Marrujo of El Carmen, NM as well as many nieces and nephews, friends and relatives.
A visitation will be in St. Francis Chapel at Gonzales Funerals & Cremations, 2315 Hot Springs Blvd. on Monday, May 15, 2017 from 1:00 p.m. until 4:00 p.m. Services will be held from Our Lady of Sorrows Church with a rosary on Monday night at 7:00 p.m. and the Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 9:00 a.m. Tuesday , May 16, 2017with her friend Father Joseph Atcher, O’Carn of Chicgo, IL assisting Father Douglas Mitchell. The interment will follow in Mt. Calvary Cemetery with the following serving as casket bearers: Christopher Gilman, Charles LeVine, Lori Hogue, Jonathan Bachert, David Sandoval, Robert Sanchez, and Johnny Marrujo. Honorary bearers will be Charlie LeVine, Oliver LeVine, Jeffrey Lujan, and Eddie Lujan. .
