Teresita Maria Romero Sandoval
June 25, 1912-February 11, 2017
Teresita Maria Romero Sandoval caught the tail of a comet to heaven on Feb. 11, 2017. She was 104 years old — the same age as her beloved New Mexico. Teresita was born in Nambé on June 25, 1912, to Ramona de la Paz Lopez and Vidal Romero and was the fifth of 10 children. She was descended from Bartolome Romero, who arrived in N.M. in 1598 with Oñate. Teresita attended school through sixth grade, and she and her parents used to travel to Santa Fe via horse-drawn wagon to sell their crops.
Teresita drew great strength and comfort from her Catholic faith, first attending the Holy Cross Santa Cruz de La Cañada church, where she married José Dolores Sandoval in 1936. She and her husband helped the community rebuild Nambe’s Iglesia de Nambé El Sagrado Corazón after it burned down in 1946. Teresita was the beloved mother of five children. After Jose died in 1965 she worked as a housecleaner, plasterer (enharadora), gardener and cook, and she knew how to use local herbs for remedios. She enjoyed attending mass, good food and visiting friends and family in the valle. Until recently she lived in the home she and José built on land that had been in her family for more than 200 years.
Teresita was preceded in death by her parents, husband and siblings and her sons José Ben Sandoval and Richard Cresencio Sandoval. She is survived by daughters Ruth Jiron (Arthur) and Marcella Sandoval (Cynthia Wright) and son Daniel Sandoval (Lorraine) as well as grandchildren Stan, Ken, Karl and Roanna Jiron; Selina Sandoval and Leah Sanchez; Emiliana and Maria Sandoval; and Joey Sandoval, as well as numerous great-grandchildren and great-great grandchildren.
Teresita’s life will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Friday, Feb. 17 at El Sagrado Corazón in Nambé and she will be buried in the Nambé cemetery. A family viewing will take place from 6-6:30 (open to the public at 6:30) with rosary recited at 7:00 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 16.
We would like to thank everyone who helped her in her later years and showed her so much kindness and respect. Special thanks to MaryAnn, her roommate, Ambercare and Casa Real caregivers and her previous caregivers.
Teresita was an inspiration to everyone she met. She adapted to her environment easily and learned and spoke more English at the nursing home. She was truly the salt of the Earth.

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