Maria Augustina Atencio Apodaca

On July 3, 2014, Maria Augustina Atencio Apodaca, or Tina as everyone called her, left on her beautiful new adventure to meet again with her mother Idalaida Preciliana Atencio, aunts Margaret and Dora, daughter-in-law Janet, and grandson Joshua. She was a self-taught and very successful retailer in Albuquerque due to her contagious smile, energy and love of ALL people. She loved her husband Steve, with whom she shared a life for nearly 50 years, and her children Barbara Courtney (Mike Reese) and Howard Courtney (Amye). She very much loved her first grandson Joshie, who left us all too soon, and grandchildren Kristin, Christopher, Amanda, Jourdan and Micah. We have so many wonderful memories of Tina! Just a few of these include the fun she had bowling with her friends and crocheting, and how she loved her backyard rose bushes, cherry tree, her puppy dog Reece, President Obama and hiked ALMOST to the top of the La Luz trail once. As a struggling, yet determined young single mother, she managed to arrange for music lessons and participated in horseback riding lessons with her two school age children. She crocheted beautiful college dorm room blankets in NMSU colors, baby blankets for her grandchildren and "just because" blankets for friends. Tina will be remembered for once locking her keys AND her dog in her car, with the car running and she had a remarkable dedication to the O.J. Simpson trial. She also generously gave away jewelry she was wearing if a certain daughter or granddaughter said, "Ooh THAT'S pretty... Can I have that?" She loved playing games on her computer and sharing funny jokes through email. She was an excellent dancer, a snappy dresser and enjoyed experimenting with fashionable hair styles and colors throughout her life. She had so much fun visiting with Rosalie, Annette, Bobbi, Rosalyn, and Glady. And she cherished the very recent spiritual comfort that her sister-in-law Jeanette enthusiastically offered. Tina was a wonderful wife, an amazing mother, a teacher of life and a true friend. She lovingly helped her children with THEIR children in too many ways to count and always showed her grandchildren unconditional love. Her expressions of love included but are not limited to, playing dominos and watching Lifetime Channel movies with her grandchildren, providing MANY beanie babies, lots of candy, discipline, advice on life choices and hairstyles when asked and even when not asked. Above all, she made sure they knew she loved them to the MOON. She was brave beyond words, beautiful, strong, smart, and funny even to the end of her short life. On her last day she watched and commented on national news, watched Judge Judy, thanked her nurses and had two cups of ice cream because if some is good, MORE is better, and decided she might have a little root beer. We will remember her worrying more about those she was leaving behind and helping the family that had gathered around her laugh. She casually mentioned, "I remember liking Long Island ice tea— and wondering the next day if anyone got the number of the truck that hit me. (Yes, there were gasps from the young adult grandchildren!) Tina chose not to have a service after her passing but we believe it would be her wish to remind her family and friends to live and love EVERY DAY and remember the happy times shared with her. And as Tina's last minutes approached she gently asked us to relax and listen and said, I have such a beautiful family and I'm so proud right now." Not long after and by her own acceptance and choice she peacefully drifted away surrounded by those that loved her to the MOON AND BACK. We will miss her deeply every day. Arrangements entrusted to Riverside Funeral Home of Albuquerque, 225 San Mateo Blvd. NE (505) 764-9663.