Irma Mae (Cordova) Wagner

Irma Cordova Wagner loved her family and said so every day.  She would have been so happy and honored to see all of you here.  A person she loved said to us that “she was the nicest person on earth”—She was.

Irma was born on Nov 14, 1928 in Amalia, New Mexico, the eldest of seven children to Benjamin and Beatrice Cordova.  She took the role of the big sister seriously, helping her mother with chores and the work of running a ranch.  Our mom loved school and excelled.  She was queen of the prom her senior year and always had the most beautiful smile.  She is survived by four of her beloved siblings…Henry, Sais, Rita and Katie.

Irma married and became a mother to Rita and Michael. She loved being a mother and she was an amazing one.  Life wasn’t easy for her when we were little, but Mike and I knew that she would do anything to protect us and love us.  She took shorthand and bookkeeping classes and worked in the credit depart of Montgomery Ward for many years.  In these last two years of her life after her stroke, she mourned the loss of her ability to keep records and balance the check book to the penny. Whatever successes Mike and I have had in our lives, we credit our mother for her strength and fierce love.

When Mom met George 45 years ago, she found the joy of dancing, traveling, and an extended family including George’s five sons and their children.  She was “Nana” to Ryan, Jesse and Jordan.  She adored them and they were always in her prayers.  Nana is credited with having invented Honey Nut Cheerios since this cereal was only available at her house.  The Church and her faith were foundational for her—a better Catholic would be hard to find. She and George shared a loving partnership and were a vital part of their faith community, the Bear Canyon Senior Center and SunTours.

Mom was beautiful, energetic and an independent woman her entire life.  She supported and gave to others without question. Her family was so meaningful to her and she loved you.  It was hard for her these last two years when she couldn’t do the things that had brought her such pleasure in life. But she stayed connected with a little cell phone that had so many of your phone numbers on autodial.  Aside from making sure she had her oxygen, her phone was an absolute must have. She treasured her conversations with you and the support you provided.

A special note of thanks to Roann and the wonderful staff at A Love for Life, the assisted care center where mom lived the last two months of her life. As mom would say, “they are so kind and treat me like a queen”.

She was the absolute best mom, wife and Nana.  We all loved her very much and we will miss her terribly…

But she will live in our hearts forever…

A Rosary will be recited Thursday, August 15, 2019, 6:00 p.m., at FRENCH – Wyoming. A Memorial Mass will be celebrated Friday, August 16, 2019, 10:00 a.m., at Risen Savior Catholic Community, 7701 Wyoming Blvd. NE 87109. Interment will be held at a later date at Santa Fe National Cemetery.