Santiago Gilberto Valencia

Santiago Gilberto Valencia, age 83, born in San Miguel, New Mexico and a resident of Albuquerque, New Mexico, passed away on May 21, 2024. Mr. Valencia is survived by his wife of sixty-four years, Clara Valencia; children, James Valencia and wife, Brenda Lucero-Valencia, Gilbert Valencia, Margaret Valencia-Herrera and husband, Carlos, Rose Valencia and husband, Ruben Chavez, Katherine Valencia-Santistevan and husband, Michael, Stephen Valencia, Michelle Valencia-Stark and husband, Ryan; grandchildren, James, Amanda, Shawndai, Branden, McKenna, Santana, Gabriel, Clarissa, Gilbert, David, Jonathan, Michael, Vanessa Nicole, Joshua, Angelia, Dominique, Luna, Aster, Sagan; great-grandchildren, Mia, Aiden, Elijah, Veronica, Luciano, Soliana, Marianna, David, Gilbert Santiago, Cierra, Isaiah, Anthony, Benicio, Michael, and Niko; brothers, Napoleon Jr. and Robert; sisters, Gloria, Ida, Genevieve, and Annabelle. He was an important part in the lives of many nieces and nephews and was loved by all. He was preceded in death by his parents, Napoleon Sr. and Julia Valencia and several siblings.

Funeral services will be held at St. Anne Catholic Church, 1400 Arenal Rd. SW, on Thursday, June 13, 2024. Visitation with family begins at 7:30 am. The rosary is scheduled at 8:15 am with eulogies to follow. The funeral mass will start promptly at 9 am. Interment will be at San Jose de Armijo Cemetery , 2957 Arenal Rd. SW.

Santiago “Jimmy” Gilberto Valencia passed away on May 21 at the age of 83 in his home. Born in San Miguel, N.M., to a family of fifteen, he moved to Albuquerque after middle school. It was there he met the woman who would become his wife, Clara Rascon. They started their married life in the Barelas neighborhood, later moving to the South Valley where they raised seven children.

Jimmy worked in different trades, eventually settling into roofing. He was known for his work ethic among his customers. He could easily calculate square footage in his head when planning for a job. Despite his lean stature, his physical strength often awed his sons and grandsons as he carried heavy roofing materials up and down a ladder. He eventually secured a position with Albuquerque Public Schools from which he retired in the early 2000’s. Jimmy was a man of faith which he shared with all his children, and was a long-time member of St. Anne’s Parish. He appreciated things which were old and handcrafted. Throughout his life, he owned several classic pickup trucks and was known to refurbish furniture he found in yard sales. He enjoyed watching westerns and wrestling. It was common to find one of his children or grandchildren sitting there alongside him. He loved spending time outdoors and, along with his wife, created a beautiful landscaped yard where his family often gathered. He was a bit of an inventor and tinkerer. If he couldn’t find a tool or equipment to fit a particular project he was working on, he would simply make it himself. To those who knew and loved him, he has been described as humble and kind. He was generous, too. If you asked for $20 he would give you $40, always offering more. To his family, he was a respected protector and provider. It was typical for a visiting child to see him driving away in their car to go fill it up with gas. Though his grandchildren were many, he made

attempts to know them individually, whether having their favorite snacks available when they visited, or to support them at a sporting event or art opening. He loved to tease and joke though easily gave himself away with a familiar twinkle in his eyes. Even as his health declined, he still made an effort to care for others, even if it was simple phrases such as, “Call me when you get home.", “How's everyone been doing?" or “Make yourselves at home.”

He will be deeply missed.