Delfina Maria Barela Lobato

Delfina Maria Barela Lobato Delfina was born on April 14th 1922 in Antonito, CO to Manuel de Jesus Barela and Sofia Trujillo Barela. She is preceded in death by her husband, Eulalio B. Lobato, his son Steven Lobato, her parents and her siblings; Faustina Martinez (Emilio), Joe Barela (Rufina), Ben Barela (Juanita), Josephine Nygard (Bill), Mary Lobato and Manuelita Quintana (Joe). She is survived by her niece Rose J. Martinez (Polito), Nephews Richard L Barela (Amalia), Ed Lobato (Lark), Rick Lobato, Dan Lobato, and Granddaughter Mary Jo Moore, all of whom she raised as her own. Her husband's older children, Corine Buice, Yolanda Hoyne, Rudy Lobato and David Lobato (Julie), She is also survived by many grandchildren, great grandchildren, a number of nephews, nieces, friends and relatives all of whom loved her dearly and will miss her very much. Though Delfina did not have biological children, she loved and nurtured each and every one of her nieces, nephews as well as their children as if they were her own. When Delfina was a young girl, her family moved from Colorado to Costilla, NM where they owned a farm. She attended school in Garcia, Co and Costilla, NM. After graduating from High School, she attended Eastern New Mexico Junior College and began her teaching career. She continued her education to earn her BA degree from St. Joseph's College in Albuquerque, NM. Within a period of thirty-three years, she taught in Amalia NM, Costilla, NM, Questa, NM and Ranchos de Taos, NM. She loved teaching 2nd and 3rd grades and she just loved her students. It always gave her great pleasure to see any of them. In 1976, Delfina retired from teaching to marry Eulalio Lobato and help him bring up his youngest children. At that time, she moved to Colorado Springs, CO where she resided until last November when she moved to Santa Fe, NM to be cared for by nephew Richard Barela. Delfina was a devout Catholic and she lived a very humble life. She was a warm, loving and generous person who always thought about others before thinking about herself. Along with caring for her home and family, she and her husband travelled extensively. She belonged to a bowling league and was active in church, as well as the Knights of Columbus through her husband Knight of Columbus Council. She was also very active in several military auxiliary organizations, as her husband was a retired officer of the US Air Force and was a World War II Prisoner of War survivor. Her passions were indoor and outdoor gardening, baking, canning and making jelly. She also sewed and embroidered, was an avid reader and most of all she loved to play Scrabble. She could play one game after another if her opponents could hold out. She was very competitive and she hated to lose so she occasionally resorted to creating new words if necessary. She lived a long, healthy life and her goal was to reach the age of 100. The past few years, she had grown tired so on August 30th, 2020 we lost our beloved "Minita", the Matriarch of our family. She was less than two years short of her goal to reach 100 years old. We are comforted to know that she earned her angel wings and is now enjoying life with her creator and many loved ones. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at Our Lady of Guadalupe church in Santa Fe, NM with Father Dennis Garcia officiating. Internment will follow at the Santa Fe National Cemetery. Funeral date and time are still pending. Social distancing practices will be followed and mask wearing will be mandatory. Arrangements entrusted to the caring professionals of: Riverside Funeral Home of Santa Fe 3232 Cerrillos Road (505) 395-9150