A Rosary service for Amalia Ortega, 80, of Portales, will be recited at 9:00 AM, Fri., in the Wheeler Mortuary Chapel by the Catholic Daughters. Committal services will follow in the Portales Cemetery with Fr. Francisco Carbajal officiating. Jo Jo Ornelas, Bryson Ontiveros and Andrew Ortega will serve as pallbearers.
Amalia Cecilia Ortega was born Jan. 17, 1940 in Villanueva, NM to the home of Antonia (Garcia) and Andreas “Tito” Gallegos and died at her home in Portales early on the morning of Oct. 5, 2020. Amalia came to Portales as a girl, and married Solomon Ortega on Dec. 1, 1956. She attended Eastern New Mexico University for a time, where she studied to become a nurse. For many years she worked in the medical field as receptionist for Dr. Dixon, as a Nurse’s Aide at Roosevelt General Hospital and in later years doing home health. She was also the receptionist for the City Manager for several years. Mrs. Ortega enjoyed playing Bingo, and dancing. Her greatest joy was her family, especially her grandchildren.
She is survived by three sons and two daughters-in-law, Charlie and Leticia Ortega of Portales, Ronnie Ortega of Colorado Springs, CO and Bobby and Irma Ortega of Portales; two daughters and a son-in-law, Carmen and Rudy Ornelas and Brenda Ortega of Portales; 14 grandchildren, 25 great-grandchildren and 1 great-great-grandchild; 6 sisters, Rafela Gallegos of Rio Rancho, NM, Angela Salazar of Villanueva, NM, Helen Jaramillo of Santa Rosa, NM, Eva Villanueva of Santa Fe, NM, Mary Sena of Albuquerque and Berna Gallegos of Villanueva. She was preceded in death by her parents, two brothers, Chencho and Bennie Gallegos, a sister, Josepha Canno, and by her husband, Solomon Ortega who died Nov 4, 1999.
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