Aleta Ellen Riggs-Harroun

Aleta E. Riggs-Harroun, age 69, a resident of Albuquerque since 1961, died peacefully at home Thursday, November 25, 2021. She is survived by her children, Dennis Harroun, and Doug Harroun and his wife, Chavonne of Albuquerque; grandchildren, Drew and Emmett; sisters, Antoinette (NM) and Peggy (GA); brother, Scott (TX); as well as many cousins, nieces, nephews, and friends. Born in Emporia, KS, in 1952, Aleta moved to Albuquerque in 1961 and attended Albuquerque High School. Aleta moved to The Big Island, Hawaii in 1987 where she earned a Bachelor's Degree in Biology from the University of Hawaii Hilo and worked as a botanist for many parks, botanical gardens and resorts throughout her time there. Upon her graduation in 2000 she returned to Albuquerque to be near family and friends with whom she maintained loving relationships and made lasting impacts on everyone who was fortunate enough to get to know her. Aleta's passion for the sciences, specifically the botanical world influenced her other love of art in which she pursued fused glass, mosaics, painting, silk, fashion, and gardening among others. Her warm generosity and devotion to her family will forever shine through our lives and also in the cosmos for future civilizations.

Aloha `oe a hui hou!

A Private Celebration of her life will be held at her home in Albuquerque on Saturday, December 18, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.; friends and family are invited to join us throughout the day. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to The Coalition to Stop Gun Violence or Planned Parenthood.