Piedad B. Gutierrez

Piedad (Pat) Barrio-Gutierrez was born on April 2, 1917 in Las Cruces. On Monday, December 27, 2010 at 4:30 pm the angels danced in our midst and swept her into God's outstretched arms where after 93 years of a hardy life on earth, she began a new journey with the angels and saints. Pat's welcome to the heavens has been prepared by generations. She will be greeted by her parents Alfredo and Maria Grijalva- Barrio. Dona Maria taught Pat how to love. Her first embrace will be from beloved daughter Rachel Martinez- Carrillo. Rachel taught Pat how to be strong though your heart is broken. Mike Martinez was her first love and together they had two daughters. Late in life Pat found her second love, Marcos Gutierrez. Both gentlemen loved her and helped her build many memories. Pat came from a large Las Cruces family with roots that date to the 1800's. She was No.5 of 15 children, preceding her in death were Luis (a mailman), Conrado (an artist), Elifda (big sister), Christina (la china), Willie (he loved to dance), Petra (she played baseball), Lupo (lady's man bachelor), Alfredo (they called him Fido for a reason), Sammie (the handsome one), David (the photographer), and Miguel (the baby who died). Having lived through a depression, the Barrio brothers and sisters taught each other how a family endures hardships and remain bonded forever. She had recently commented, "Without family, you have nothing, always hang onto it." Though over a hundred years old, the home base still exists in the heart of Las Cruces where Pat and her siblings grew up and where she too raised her family. Pat is survived by Eva Barrio- Garvey (the pretty one), Frankie Barrio (the professor) and baby sister Gloria Barrio- Gonzales (the nice one); by daughter Mickey Martinez-Carlucci and husband Martin; granddaughters Michelle Flores- Fyfe, Camille Sanchez- Wiley, and Desiree Carrillo and many great grandchildren, nieces and nephews. During her life, Pat saw 17 presidents come and go and was proud to have voted for the first black President of the United States (if you don't vote don't complain). She saw WWI, WWII, Korean Conflict, Cuban Crisis, Viet Nam war and the Iraq-Iran-Afghanistan debacle. She witnessed a man walking on the moon, President Kennedy's assassination, the civil rights movement including Martin Luther King's death, women's rights and birth control. Pat worked hard all of her life and retired from the Dona Ana County Courthouse after 30 years employment in the Assessor's Office. Those were happy days working at the old courthouse with her friends. A visitation will be held from 5 to 7 PM on Monday, Jan. 3, 2011 at Getz Funeral Home where a prayer vigil will follow at 7 PM. Pat's funeral mass is at 2:00 PM on Tuesday, Jan. 4, 2011 at St. Genevieve's Catholic Church with Fr. Ricardo Bauza officiating. She will be laid to rest at St. Joseph's Catholic Cemetery in her beloved Las Cruces. Pall bearers will be grandsons Dawayne Hill and Santino Carrillo; nephews Dick Romero, Danny Rubio, Conrad Barrio, and Jaime Barrio. PDF Printable Version