1937-2023
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Formerly of Conejos-Antonito, Loyola M. DeHerrera, 85, passed away peacefully on the evening of April 12, 2023, with her children and grandchildren at her side, in Los Lunas, N.M.
Loyola was born July 4, 1937, in Antonito, Colo., the daughter of Abel L Espinoza and Margaret Trujillo. She was one of 14 children raised in Guadalupe, Colo. She received her primary education at Conejos Elementary School and attended Antonito High School, where she graduated.
Following her High School graduation, she fell in love and married Frederick David DeHerrera. A beautiful nuptial was celebrated at Our Lady of Guadalupe in Conejos. They moved to Denver where he had employment and years later to Ontario, Calif. Their seven children were born along the way. In later years, they moved back to the Valley where Fred was in an accident and passed away.
She attended Adams State College, and in 1972 received her Bachelor's Degree and went on to receive her Master's in Education. She moved with her beautiful children (Diana, Danette, David, Dennis, Dominic, Delsie, and Derrick), to Questa, N.M., where she took her first teaching job. There she met up with one of her college mates, Edith Duran from college. Loyola was so excited that the two would be teaching in the Questa School
District. But fate would change the path, Edith died as a result of a car accident while traveling back to Antonito. She taught school in Questa throughout her career. While there she would meet and married Eligio (JR) Ortega, and she remained in Questa until his death.
As the children finished school and moved on, they ended up in Albuquerque. Upon retirement from teaching, she closed her home in Questa and followed her children to Albuquerque, N.M.
Her most noted hobby was sewing, in addition to reading.
Loyola was preceded in death by her parents Abel and Margaret Espinoza, brothers: Abe Jr Espinoza, Nicholas Espinoza, Frank (Pancho) Espinoza, Paul Espinoza, and sisters: Lucille Espinoza and Lorraine Atencio, son, David DeHerrera, and two grandchildren Leona Quintana and Neil DeHerrera.
She is survived by her children, Diana DeHerrera, Danette (David) Quintana, Dennis (Brenda) DeHerrera, Dominic DeHerrera, Delsie (Richard) Quintana, Derrek (Michelle) DeHerrera, and 40-plus great- and great-great-grandchildren. Also surviving her are brothers Rueben Espinoza, Denver, Albert (Marcella) Espinoza, Surprise, Ariz., Dominic (Cano) Espinoza, Antonito, and Anthony Espinoza, Antonito, and sisters Jane Northrip, Alamosa, Colo., Julie Montano, Albuquerque, N.M., and Loretta (Orlando) Gallegos, Antonito.
She was a lifetime member of the Catholic Church. A mass of the Resurrection was held on Tuesday, April 18, 2023, at Our Lady of Guadalupe in Peralta, N.M. Interment followed at Our Lady of Guadalupe Cemetery in Peralta, N.M.
