Funeral services for Isabel L. Ornelas, 82, of Portales, will be at 10:00 AM, Mon., June 25, 2018 at Foundations of Faith Church in Portales with Pastor Raul Ornelas officiating. Burial will follow in the Portales Cemetery with Manuel Gonzalez, Jr., Cesar Ornelas, Steve Lopez, Fernando Mendoza, Omar Ornelas and Amadeus Ornelas serving as pallbearers. All other grandchildren will serve as honorary pallbearers.
Isabel Ornelas was born Nov. 2, 1935 in Saragosa, TX to the home of Maria (Chavez) and Domingo Lopez, and died peacefully at her home in Portales on Fri., June 22, 2018. On Aug. 14, 1953, in Pecos, TX, she was married to Manuel U. Ornelas. They made their home in Saragosa until 1969, when they moved to Portales to be near other family members. Mrs. Ornelas was a wonderful cook and homemaker. She reared nine children, babysat for other children and cooked three meals every day. She was known for her daily tortillas, as well as for her delicious burritos, empanadas, tamales, and red and green chili. Mrs. Ornelas never allowed any of her grandchildren to be placed in daycare She insisted on taking care of them herself. She was an avid reader of her Bible, and knew her scriptures extremely well.
She is survived by her husband, Manuel Ornelas of their home; three sons and two daughters-in-law, Lionel (Margaret) Ornelas of Portales, Manuel E. and Iris Ornelas and Leroy and Elfida Ornelas both of San Antonio, TX; four daughters and three sons-in-law, Hilda and Manuel Gonzalez, Michelle and Michael Baros, Josephine Ornelas and Marivel and Joseph Montoya all of Portales; 27 grandchildren and numerous great-grandchildren as well as great-great-grandchildren; three brothers, Calis Lopez of Pecos, TX, Jose Lopez of Balmorhea, TX and Domingo Lopez, Jr. of Odessa, TX; and four sisters, Tina Duran of Artesia, NM, Micaela Medrano of Odessa, TX, Rumalda “Ruby” Gutierrez of Midland, TX and Ramona Lopez of Portales. She was preceded in death by her parents, seven brothers, a sister, a son, Joel Ornelas and a daughter, Irma Ornelas.
