Dora Maestas

Dora Mascareñas Maestas flung off her earthy bonds on Monday, June 24, 2013 and joined her beloved husband Max who passed away on January 1, 1997. At age 89, Dora had lived a full life and had been a faithful sister to her one remaining sibling (Theresa Medina Griego of Albuquerque), a loving wife, supportive mother to four daughters, caring grandmother to seven grandchildren, and treasured matriarch to eight great-grandchildren. Born on September 16, 1923 in Peñasco of Taos County to Enriquez and Nazaria Rodriguez Mascareñas, Dora was full of adventure, a favorite friend of many, and a natural motivator. As a child Dora was fun loving, uncrushed by poverty, positive under adversity, and anxious to make the most out of whatever opportunities came her way. At age twenty-one she took the bold step to leave the familiarity of her rural roots and joined the US Army Air Corps where she served honorably in Iowa, Oklahoma and California. After her service she married Max who had earlier left Rodarte, Taos County for his Army service. Together they dreamed, worked hard, budgeted carefully, and steadily built a comfortable, fulfilling life in Albuquerque. They made many, many sacrifices and lovingly reared four daughters; Gloria Jean Maestas (Rodarte), Joan Marie Bouda (Los Lunas), Susan Gass (Albuquerque), and Maxine Rose Pavlakovich (Albuquerque). Each daughter went on to their own success with the family values and strong work ethic instilled by both Dora and Max. In every situation the daughters encountered, Dora and Max were there to provide sound guidance, encouragement and support. No children could have asked for more loving parents and ideal role models. Dora enjoyed her immediate family which also includes three sons-in-law (Marvin Sommers, Joseph Randel Pavlakovich, and Michael Duhr); grandchildren (Stephanie, Stephen (deceased), Naya, Jocelyn, Joseph II, Cassandra, and Matthew); great-grandchildren (Christina, Cynthia, Sierra, Loy III, Isaiah, Jessica, Emilee and Sydney) and godson Mark Lopez. Dora loved chatting with long-time friends, interior decorating, flower gardening indoors and outdoors, collecting beautiful things, jewelry crafting, the Christmas holiday season, roses and hollyhocks, the antics of her dog Honey, and the excitement of local casinos. After the deaths of her five sisters and two brothers over many years, Dora became increasingly close to her one remaining sister and her many nieces and nephews. She was also close to the two daughters of her dearest childhood friend Minnie Lucero Vigil who died in 2009. We will miss having Dora in our lives and the cohesiveness she brought to our entire extended family. She will be in our memories and prayers forever. Dora's life will be celebrated on Friday, June 28, 2013, 11:00 a.m. at Chester T. French Mausoleum Chapel, Sunset Memorial Park, 924 Menual Blvd NE, friends may visit one hour prior to the celebration.