Esther Ruiz

Esther A Ruiz, 94, passed away on December 16, 2018 in Santa Fe. Esther touched many lives and was a beloved mother to Barbara Morin, a respected mother-in-law to Thomas Morin, and a devoted grandmother to Esteban Morin. In addition to her immediate family, she is survived by her brothers Dr. Antonio Aguilar and his wife Gerd, and John Aguilar and his wife, Esther; sisters-in law Rosemond Ruiz and Mary Cardenas and many beloved nieces and nephews.  She is preceded in death by her husband Filberto “Squeeze” Ruiz; mother, Maria Conception Jones, and brother’s Jose Aguilar and Chris Prado.

Esther was born on June 18, 1924 in a coal mining camp in Segundo, Colorado.  Her family soon moved to Raton, New Mexico where she spent almost half her life. She fell in love, married her husband, had her only child and lived a charmed life, surrounded by a loving family.  Esther’s life was filled with delicious food (both her mother and mother-in-law owned restaurants), wonderful music (her husband had a dance band), work that she enjoyed and good friends.  In short, she embraced all those blessings that a small New Mexican town and large extended family bring and constitute a happy life. She moved to Santa Fe in 1964 when her husband, Filberto, was promoted to Director of the NM Veterans Service Commission and began the second chapter of her life, interesting and fulfilling in a different way but still retaining those elements that make life rich –family and friends.  Esther was a kind, funny, beautiful, elegant and accomplished woman who worked for many years at both Shaya and Zale’s Jewelers in Santa Fe where she complemented and enhanced the jewels she sold.

Visitation followed by rosary recitation will be held at 6:00 pm on Thursday, January 10, 2019 at Berardinelli Funeral Home.  A mass of Christian Burial will take place at the Santuario de Nuestra Senora de Guadalupe on Friday, January 11th at 11:00 am, followed by interment at the Santa Fe National Cemetery.  A late luncheon (1:00 pm) celebrating Esther’s life will held thereafter. Special and heartfelt thanks to the staff of The Legacy at Aldea and Ambercare for their kind and loving care of Esther in her final days.

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