Anne Vocale Butterfield

Anne Vocale Butterfield was born on September 10, 1929, in Deming, New Mexico and passed away in Albuquerque, New Mexico on December 24, 2024 at the age of 95 years.

 The youngest child of Italian immigrants, Anne spent her formative years living on the family farm outside of Deming. There she learned to swim in a reservoir, drive a pickup truck on dirt roads, and shoot a gun alongside her older sister, Rose. Anne only spoke Italian when she began first grade, but she would learn English and excel academically, eventually graduating as Valedictorian of her senior class at Deming High School. Moving to the big city of Albuquerque to attend the University of New Mexico as a college freshman would change the course of her life. Anne was initiated into the Chi Omega sorority and was a proud member, having recently observed her 76th year of membership. Living in the sorority house on campus afforded her many social opportunities and it was during this time that she met the love of her life, Ernest Bernard Butterfield, Jr. (Bernie). They were married on the same December day as her older sister and a joint wedding reception was held at the Deming Country Club. Anne graduated from UNM six months later with an undergraduate degree in business.

 Bernie took over management of the family-owned business, Butterfield Jewelers, in 1954. Anne would be an integral part of the business’s success as co-owner. Although she devoted most of her time to the care and upbringing of their four children, she spent countless hours waiting on customers, helping with administrative duties, and organizing store functions. She balanced her work and family commitments with volunteer opportunities. She served on boards of the Albuquerque Area Chi Omega Alumni Association and the New Mexico Symphony Guild (now Music Guild of New Mexico). Anne and Bernie traveled extensively during their lifetime together but, even more than traveling, she enjoyed being in the family home and taking part in Albuquerque’s community. After Bernie passed away, she moved into a senior independent apartment and relished quiet days of watching the Hallmark Channel, visiting with friends and family, going out to eat, sitting on her patio admiring the Sandia mountains during warm months, and reading novels during the cold months.

 Anne was predeceased by her husband of 70 years, Ernest Bernard Butterfield Jr., her parents, her brother, Emanuel and sister-in-law, Grace, and brother-in-law, Hugh Haferkamp. She is survived by her loving children, Ernest (Ernie) Butterfield, III (Karen), Michael Butterfield (Susan), Theresa Butterfield Maxey (Bill), and Amy Butterfield Woolley (Kurt), and her sister, Rose Haferkamp, as well as ten grandchildren and four great grandchildren. 

 Anne’s funeral will be held at Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church, 4020 Lomas Blvd NE, Albuquerque, NM on Saturday, January 4, 2025 at 10:00am. The concluding services and interment will follow at Sunset Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts can be made to the Butterfield Educational Fund at the University of New Mexico to support the Butterfield Endowed Music Scholarship. Contributions may be mailed to the UNM Foundation, Two Woodward Center, 700 Lomas Blvd. NE, Albuquerque, NM 87102, attention Butterfield Endowed Music Scholarship, or made online at www.unmfund.org.