Josephine Melendrez
August 7, 1930 — April 2, 2024
Josephine (Totie) Garcia Melendrez, loving mother, sister, aunt, grandmother, great grandmother & great/great grandmother peacefully passed away in her home in Dona Ana, NM on April 2, 2024 at the age of 93.
Josephine was born August 7, 1930 to Tomas & Fidela Garcia in Dona Ana, NM. They were a family of 9 children, 7 brothers & 2 sisters.
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Josephine (Totie) Garcia Melendrez, loving mother, sister, aunt, grandmother, great grandmother & great/great grandmother peacefully passed away in her home in Dona Ana, NM on April 2, 2024 at the age of 93.
Josephine was born August 7, 1930 to Tomas & Fidela Garcia in Dona Ana, NM. They were a family of 9 children, 7 brothers & 2 sisters.
Josephine as a young child grew up in Dona Ana and attended Dona Ana grade School till the 8th grade. She loved hanging around with her friends and cousins. Everyone loved her smile and personality. She was always joking around and was the life of the party. At age 16 she met the love of her life, Abdon Melendrez Sr. at the post office in Dona Ana, NM. He asked her out on a date and after the first date proposed and they were married for 71 years. They moved to Weed, NM for 12 years, then Mescalero until Abdon Retired. Josephine loved to cook, sew, shop and liked to play hide and seek and games with her children. She worked for the Bent-Mescalero Elementary public school for the physical education department washing and preparing all PE activity uniforms. She also did a lot of babysitting on the Mescalero Reservation, taking care of numerous children. Many of them called her grandma and a few of them would even come and visit her in Dona Ana when she moved back home. She loved to sing when she was doing her housework.
She faithfully donated to many organizati...
Josephine (Totie) Garcia Melendrez, loving mother, sister, aunt, grandmother, great grandmother & great/great grandmother peacefully passed away in her home in Dona Ana, NM on April 2, 2024 at the age of 93.
Josephine was born August 7, 1930 to Tomas & Fidela Garcia in Dona Ana, NM. They were a family of 9 children, 7 brothers & 2 sisters.
Josephine as a young child grew up in Dona Ana and attended Dona Ana grade School till the 8th grade. She loved hanging around with her friends and cousins. Everyone loved her smile and personality. She was always joking around and was the life of the party. At age 16 she met the love of her life, Abdon Melendrez Sr. at the post office in Dona Ana, NM. He asked her out on a date and after the first date proposed and they were married for 71 years. They moved to Weed, NM for 12 years, then Mescalero until Abdon Retired. Josephine loved to cook, sew, shop and liked to play hide and seek and games with her children. She worked for the Bent-Mescalero Elementary public school for the physical education department washing and preparing all PE activity uniforms. She also did a lot of babysitting on the Mescalero Reservation, taking care of numerous children. Many of them called her grandma and a few of them would even come and visit her in Dona Ana when she moved back home. She loved to sing when she was doing her housework.
She faithfully donated to many organizations of her choice.
She is survived by her sons Abdon Melendrez Jr. (Shirley) Dona Ana, Lorenzo Melendrez (Angelita) Las Cruces, Craig R. Melendrez (Rosemary) Albuquerque, Derick L. Melendrez (Loretta) Las Cruces and daughter Donna L. Melendrez Coffman (Daren) Belen, NM also two brothers, Jimmie Garcia Sr. & Freddie Garcia both of Fresno California. She has 10 grandchildren, 18 great grandchildren and 5 great/great grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews.
She is preceded in death by her parents Tomas & Fidela Garcia, brothers, Francisco, Lorenzo, Antonio, Benjamin and Enrique, Sister Virginia Garcia, Husband Abdon Melendrez Sr. son Frankie Melendrez Sr. and daughter Nancy Urquidez and on grandson Frank Ramirez III.
Pallbearers, Abdon Melendrez Jr, Lorenzo Melendrez, Derick Melendrez, Craig Melendrez, David Bracamonte and Darren Coffman. Honorary Pallbearer James Melendrez.
Public viewing is scheduled at 5:00 on Thursday, April 11, 2024 at Getz Funeral Home. Funeral Mass will be held at Our Lady of Purification on Friday, April 12, 2024 at 10:30 am followed by Burial.
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