Maria del Carmen Salazar Gonzalez, 90, entered into eternal rest on Monday, September 16, 2024 in Silver City, NM.

Recitation of the Holy Rosary will take place on Monday, September 23, 2024, at 10am at St. Francis Newman Center Parish recited by Father Martin Okonkwo. The Mass of Christian Burial will follow at 11:00am. The Rite of Committal and Interment will follow at Hurley Cemetery where she will be laid to rest next to her husband, Oscar. Officiating will be Father Ephriam Ezulike. Serving as pallbearers will be Joseph Chaires, Robert Chaires, Oscar López, Brian E Pantoja, Victor Pantoja, Víctor Salazar. Honorary Pallbearers are Eduardo González, Aaron López, Mikey López, Tony Ruedas and Paul Stewart.

Carmen was born on December 29, 1933 in El Paso, Texas to Lino and Vicenta Avvocato. She was a graduate of El Paso High and attended UTEP as a pre-med student. She married her husband Oscar on April 5, 1959, in El Paso, Texas.

They moved to Anahuaca, Chihuahua where Oscar began his career, and she began raising the family. She loved to play canasta with her friends. They moved to Silver City in 1963, and Carmen quickly began getting involved in community activities. She served as a school board member and served as the board secretary for four years where she advocated for students and parents. She was actively involved in the parent advisory committee at Silver High and La Plata Jr High. She was a Girl Scout Leader for eight years and served on the Executive Board for Silver City Red Cross. Her political career included being elected as a Democratic State Delegate, Financial Secretary to Tony Anaya when he ran for U.S. Senate. She served on the museum board. She was a past member of Finance Committee District III of Democratic Women of New Mexico. She was elected and served for three years as President of Women's Democratic Organization. She helped with several campaigns locally and statewide. Carmen was a woman of faith and was an active member of St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church and St Francis Newman Center. Anyone who knew her knew that she could spend hours praying for family, friends and anyone in need of prayer. Serving as a Hospice Volunteer was one of her greatest passions. She began volunteering in 1991 and in 2008 she received the Carmen Gonzalez GRMC Hospice Services Volunteer of the Year Award. During her years of volunteering, she often sat quietly with the patient praying for them and helping the family.

Carmen is survived by her daughters Judy Stewart (Rick), Carmen Molina, Elizabeth Worthington (Richard), Miguel González. Grandchildren Paul Stewart (Callie), Analisia Stewart (Adam), Joseph Chaires (Sarah), Robert Chaires (Rachel), Amanda Byers, and Kelsey Byers and seven great grandchildren, numerous, nieces, nephews, and godchildren. She is preceded in death by her beloved husband Oscar Ismael Gonzalez; Parents, Lino and Vicenta Salazar; Brothers, Francisco Xavier Salazar, Ramon Salazar, Moises Salazar, Victor Salazar; Sisters, Irma Pantoja and Lucia Ruedas as well as her son-in-law, Reymundo Molina.

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