Justina "Justa" Ortiz Norero passed away Wednesday, November 13, 2024 at La Posada Assisted Living Mesilla Valley Hospice, Las Cruces, NM where she was a resident for two and one-half months. She was 98 years old, born on September 24, 1926 to Melquiades Roybal and Rosario Villalovos Ortiz and raised in San Lorenzo, NM in the Mimbres Valley. She resided in the original Norero homestead ranch with her husband and children in the village of San Juan in the Mimbres Valley until 2011 when she needed help and could no longer live alone. She went to live with her daughter and son-in-law, Gloria and Larry, in Las Cruces where they cared for her until her health deteriorated and required more intense 24-hour medical care.
Justa was married for 64 years to Carlos "Charlie" J. Norero, who preceded her in death. She was a hard-working farmer, rancher and housewife. Besides her home duties and raising her family she had a menagerie of animals she loved to tend including chickens, turkeys, guinea hens, ducks, peacocks and rabbits. She also helped with the butchering of cattle, sheep and hogs and picking and selling a variety of fruit from their orchards. There was never a lack of food in the Norero household.
Justina was known for her jams and jellies, which she always had a large supply of and shared with her friends and neighbors. Throughout the years Justina found time to work as a census worker driving to remote locations to make sure all the residents in the Mimbres Valley were counted for the 10-year Census. She also worked cooking and serving lunch at the new cafeteria and gym, when first built in the San Lorenzo Elementary School. Justina worked as an election worker for local and federal elections for numerous years as well.
Justa had been the last surviving member of her family. She graduated from Teachers High School in Silver City, NM. She is survived by three daughters, Gloria Ann Mastic and husband Lawrence of Las Cruces, NM; Norma Madrid (Sammy) of San Antonio, TX; Amy Vigil (Avenildo Jr.) of Bayard, NM; one son, Benjamin Norero (Sherrie) of Schenectady, NY; eleven grandchildren, Dienne Castruita, Frank Lucero Jr., Tracey Louis, Justina and Benjamin Norero, Kaitlin Strempke, Stephen Adolf, Avenildo "AJ" III, Tristan and Alejandro Leon Vigil, Abriana Herrera and several great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, parents, three sisters, Enriqueta "Henrietta" Campos, Isabel Ramirez, and Margarita "Margaret" Pedraza; three brothers, Guillermo "Willie," Felipe and Pedro "Pete" Ortiz; and one daughter, Kristine "Kris" Hagen.
Visitation will be Saturday, November 23rd from 9:00 to 10:00 AM at Baca's Funeral Chapel with recitation of the Holy Rosary to begin at 10 AM. At the conclusion of the rosary, the Funeral Liturgy will follow with Father Martin Okonkwo officiating. Concluding the service, interment will be at the San Lorenzo Catholic Cemetery.
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