The Rosary for “Jean” Peña, 90, of Portales, will be recited at 10:00 AM, Sat., Oct. 21,2017 at St. Helen Catholic Church. Mass of the Resurrection will be celebrated at 11:00 AM, with Fr. Charles Ugochuckwu officiating. Burial will follow in the Portales Cemetery with Joseph Peña, Billy Joe Peña, Ernie Peña, Manuel Peña, Shaun Peña, Carl Tapia, Bud Peña and Leslie Penner serving as pallbearers.
Eduvigen Peña, known to everyone as “Jean,” was born Jan. 21, 1927 in La Palma, NM to the home of Silviana (Gonzales) and Jose A Garcia, and died early on the morning of Oct. 16, 2017 in Rio Rancho, NM. Jean grew up on a ranch in La Palma near Encino, NM and went to school there. On May 5, 1948 in Vaughn, NM, she was married to Manuel Peña. They made their home in Encino until the early 1950;s when they moved to Portales. Following the death of her husband, Mrs. Peña worked for a time at the Portales Steam Laundry, and later as a housekeeper at Roosevelt General Hospital. She retired in 1990, and began a daycare in her home for various children.
Jean loved to go to Mass, especially the Spanish Mass at 5:30 on Saturday. She always sat in the same place,where she could see the priest, the altar and the musicians. Even though she was widowed for over 40 years, she never stopped loving her beloved husband, Manuel, and she never remarried. She could often be heard talking and reminiscing about him. She was a prayer warrior for all of her family. Jean had a wonderful gift of hospitality, and could always make you feel welcome and special.
She is survived by a son and daughter-in-law, Abe and Tamra Peña of Albuquerque; a daughter, Mary Lou Peña of Rio Rancho, NM; 12 grandchildren, 23 great-grandchildren and 2 great-great-grandchildren; and a sister Rita (Billie) Sanchez of Ribera, NM. She was preceded in death by her parents, 3 brothers, Pete, Joe D. and Bonifacio Garcia, 4 sisters, Isabelita Larranaga, Emily Ortiz, Juanita Martinez and Anita Lucero, and by her beloved husband, Manuel who died in July of 1976 and sons Willie Peña in May of 2015 and Joe Peña in July of 2017.
