Emma (Herrera) Maes

Emma H. Maes, proud wife and mother, died on Friday, May 19, 2017.  she was born in Las Vegas, NM.  Emma was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Juan A. Maes; her parents, Adelaido Herrera and Rose McElroy Herrera; her brothers, Eloy Herrera and Adelaido (Junior) Herrera; and her sisters, Margie Bailey, Delia Thompson, and Josephine Lucero.

Emma is survived by her daughter, Perlinda Shelton and husband, Jim; sons, John A. Maes and wife, Rosemary, Jerome A. Maes and wife, Greta Reeser, Joseph A. Maes, and James A. Maes and wife, Lori Bannowsky; grandchildren, Aubrey C. O’Brien and husband, Steve, Jeremy A. Shelton and wife, Kelly, John A. Maes III and wife, Joy, and Raina Lee Maes; great grandchildren, Trevor O’Brien and wife, Brandi, Conor O’Brien, and Emma O’Brien, Marcus, Cameron and Kaylee Shelton, and Harmony Maes; and her sisters, Mary Alice Tarin and Celina Mullins.  She is also survived by many nieces and nephews who loved her dearly and whom she cherished.

Emma spent her childhood in Rowe, NM and Las Vegas, NM.  She graduated from Pecos High School as Valedictorian.  She worked for many years at the Social Security Administration.  After retiring, she enjoyed traveling, gardening and spending several years in California where she and Juan enjoyed the many sights.

The family would like to thank Dr. Shelley Shapiro and her assistant Glenna, who cared for Emma during her time in California.  We would also like to thank Dr. Sandra Qaseem; nurses, Karen, Justin, Farouz, Maria and the other wonderful nurses on 4 West at UNM and UNM Medical ICU; and caregivers, Sharon, Gina, Lorraine, Dezaray, and Petra for all their help, care and compassion.

There will be a void in our hearts and she will be loved and missed forever, but wherever she may be we are sure she will be dancing. Serving as Pallbearers are her sons, John, Jerome, Joseph and James as well as her grandsons, Jeremy Shelton and John Maes III and great-grandson, Marcus Shelton.  Honorary Pallbearers are her great-grandsons, Trevor O’Brien, Conor O’Brien and Cameron Shelton.

Services will be held on Thursday, May 25, 2017 at 1:30 p.m. at FRENCH-Lomas, 10500 Lomas Blvd, NE.

Memorial contributions, in honor of Emma, can be made to the Pulmonary Hypertension Association, 801 Roeder Road, Ste. 1000, Silver Spring, MD 20910 or online at phassociation.org.