Mary Alice Casaus

Mary Alice Casaus

It is with a heavy heart; we announce our beloved Mary Alice Casaus passed away peacefully surrounded by her loving children on Wednesday, August 5, 2026, at the age of 80 and entered eternal life. She leaves behind unwavering love and devotion to her family.

Mary was born on the first day of summer, June 21, 1946, in Fort Sumner New Mexico, to Castulo and Julia Aragon, she was the oldest of four sisters and one brother; Virginia Araiza, Rosie Lovato, Martha Fossum, Kathy Aragon, and Castulo Aragon, Jr.

Growing up she was an all-around academic student as she enjoyed learning, attending the Fort Sumner schools. While outside of school she helped the family caring for her siblings and worked various jobs highlighted by a stint at the local movie house called the Zia Theatre. She enjoyed spending time with family, especially her grandparents and her aunts.

Despite Fort Sumner being a small community, it was common during that time to walk to school, work, and/or to visit family. Many times, the daily jaunt was quite a distance and included inclement weather. Yet, she never wavered when it came time to get from one place to another.

Mary enjoyed time with friends and attending dances in the Fort Sumner area and surrounding communities. She would eventually meet her lifelong dance partner and true love as they would “dance the lights out” together whenever they set foot on any dance floor.

On August 22, 1964, she married her true love, Procopio (Popo) E. Casaus in Fort Sumner, and they would go on to make their home in Roswell. Together, throughout their lifetime, their flawless movements on the dance floor would be liken to that of the great dance duo of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers.

Throughout her life, Mary embodied a loving, kind, and caring person that acted as a gentle light. She was a person of integrity and compassion that possessed a pure heart and a peaceful soul. She was a beautiful person whose smile beamed like a ray of sunshine when you saw her with her family, at work, or around town.

She enjoyed helping anyone anyway she could. She once wrote, “I grew up not having much, but I like helping those who need help and to help feed those that are hungry.” Mary was often seen handing people money that she came across that were hungry. She had a penchant for tucking away money in her purse to have available for someone that could use it. She contributed to the church and often to the Maryknoll Sisters to help feed children around the world, not to mention helping to support children for various healthcare needs at St. Judes Hospital.

Her mother instilled in her a deep faith in God, a love for family, and lifelong commitment to helping others. Mary attended bible studies at the Catholic Church she previously attended before eventually moving to Las Cruces. She provided communion to faithfuls during the week that were homebound. She helped fulfill Christ’s spiritual connection to care for the sick, but she also enjoyed the interaction with the people providing them company and comfort. In addition, she was often donating clothing and other items she could gather for the celebrant of her parish to send to his native Africa to have dispersed to people of need.

Mary found working in the healthcare field throughout her career rewarding as a secretary. She developed lifelong friendships with many of the patients she became acquainted with in the various practices in dentistry, general health, and lastly oncology medical facilities where she worked. Her compassion and love for all made it easy to help patients become relaxed and comfortable on their visits with the medical staff.

Her favorite time of the year was celebrating Christ’s birth at Christmas. She would prepare more than four weeks out as part of Advent Services displaying nativity displays, Christmas trees, lights and many other decorations throughout the house and stay decorated well past the month of January. She enjoyed the spirit of giving even more at Christmas to her family, friends and people she didn’t know. You could find her watching holiday movies throughout, especially on the Hallmark channel. She loved time spent in the kitchen baking and cooking up our many favorites, especially during the holidays.

Her love and commitment to family was the most important to her, especially having a cup of joe first thing in the morning with someone beside her. Mary enjoyed conversation with anyone that would listen. She reminded us always to be kind and loving to all, including people in your life that were hard to like. She would often say, pray for them and forgive them.

She will be missed dearly as her kind and loving heart will be missed, not to mention her words of love and encouragement. The impact she had on family and complete strangers will leave a powerful ripple effect, leaving a lasting mark on all she touched. It is this everlasting legacy that her family can continue in the way she enjoyed life most. Her integrity, love, wisdom, and forgiveness she instilled in us will provide the path to persevere until we join her in eternal life.

Mary attended Holy Cross Catholic Church in Las Cruces until she was no longer able to attend. She is preceded in death by her parents, Castulo and Julia Aragon, her true love and soulmate, Procopio (Popo) E. Casaus.

She is survived by son Anthony Casaus and his wife Annie Casaus; daughter Connie Chavez and her husband Chris Chavez; daughter Patricia Bacon and her husband Nick Bacon; son Michael Casaus and his wife Nicolle Ontiveros Casaus.

Mary was blessed with 11 grandchildren, Michael-Anthony, Anthony, Alyssa, Roman, Angel, Ethan, Michael, Isabella, Tristan, Caleb, and Matthew. Additionally with 5 great grandchildren, Meliah, Michael Anthony, Ariélla, Avery, and Charlie.

Pallbearers are sons, Anthony, Michael, and Michael-Anthony, grandsons Anthony, Michael, Michael Anthony, and Son-in-Law, Chris Chavez. Honorary Pallbearers are grandsons, Roman, Ethan, Tristan, Caleb, Matthew, and great grandson, Avery.

Services for Mary will begin at 6:00 pm on Thursday, August 13, 2026, at Holy Cross Parish on 1327 N. Miranda St., Las Cruces, NM 88005 with a rosary prayer vigil. The Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Friday, August 14, 2026, at Holy Cross Parish at 2:00 pm with the Reverend Richard Catanach, Celebrant. Burial will follow at 11:00 am on Saturday, August 15, 2026, at South Park Cemetery in Roswell, New Mexico.

In lieu of flowers, a donation can be made in memory of Mary Alice Casaus to the Alzheimer’s Association at act.alz.org/walklascruces.

All arrangements have been entrusted to the care of Getz Funeral Home, 1410 E. Bowman Ave., Las Cruces, New Mexico 88001.