Emily Jean Ortega

With great sadness, we announce that Emily Jean Ortega passed away on April 13, 2025 in Albuquerque following a courageous battle with early-onset Alzheimer's Disease and aphasia.   Emily was an amazing daughter, sister, aunt, and friend with a kind, compassionate and generous heart. Although our lives will never be the same without her, we are relieved that she is no longer suffering and is at peace.

Emily was born in Santa Fe on February 19, 1962 to Louie and Bennie Ortega. She graduated a year early from Santa Fe High School in 1979 and started college in Las Cruces at New Mexico State University. She returned to Santa Fe and lived there and in Denver, Colorado, for most of her adult years. While she had great fondness for Denver, Emily always held her hometown of Santa Fe close to her heart. She loved hiking and the outdoors, and was happiest with the sun on her cheeks and a breeze in her hair. Emily was always up for an adventure and was quick to make friends along the way. She loved to laugh, eat, travel and dance. She had a wide taste in music, which brought her happiness throughout her life and comfort in her final days.

Emily earned an Associate's Degree in Biological/Physical Sciences from Santa Fe Community College in 1999. She was a devoted employee of UC Health at the University of Colorado Hospital where she served as a Medical Referral Specialist in the Cancer Center for more than 20 years. Emily was recognized by the University of Colorado Hospital for her dedicated service with an Annual Standard of Excellence Award. More precious to her than awards and accolades, however, were the connections that she made with patients and their families during the emotional and challenging journey of a cancer diagnosis. It was Emily's life mission to help them navigate the administrative web of medical appointments, referrals, authorizations, bills and to support them along the way. She was praised by patients, families and co-workers for her kindness, patience, knowledge and tenacity. One of her patients beautifully summed up Emily's impact: "She became the one person I could count on to respond to my many questions and apprehensions in a timely manner and with sincere sensitivity." In addition to her office work, Emily devoted many weekends to supporting patients and families at cancer retreats.

Emily had a strong faith and was a member of the Risen Christ Catholic Parish in Denver.

Emily reluctantly moved to Albuquerque to be closer to family in 2019 when she started to experience challenges in managing her affairs. She received the devastating diagnosis of Alzheimer's Disease in early 2020 during the pandemic lockdown. Fiercely independent, she was determined to and succeeded in living on her own until November 2022. She then moved to BeeHive Homes until her passing.

Emily is survived by her mother, Bennie; siblings, Henrietta, Frances, Louis (Jennifer), Mark (Lisa) and Stefanie (Ben Arimoto); nieces, Mackenzie, Mia and Tessa; and many dear friends. She is preceded in death by her father, Louie Ortega, of Pecos, New Mexico, grandparents and many aunts and uncles. It brings us comfort to know that our loved ones have welcomed Emily with open arms and that she also has been reunited with her fur babies, Little Joe, Cinnamon, Sanjay and Tigest.

We would like to thank the staff at BeeHive Homes for their patience, kindness and compassionate care. We also are grateful for the support of Roadrunner Hospice, whose staff helped all of us during Emily's decline and eventual transition.

We are planning a funeral mass and burial services in Pecos, New Mexico, at St. Anthony's Catholic Church and will provide details in the near future.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in honor of Emily's memory to Animal Humane New Mexico at animalhumaneNM.org or to the Alzheimer's Association at www.alz.org. We would be happy to have you join us as part of Team Emily Ortega in the Walk to End Alzheimer's-Central New Mexico, October 25, 2025 at 9 a.m. at Mariposa Basin Park.