Jesusita Morales

Jesusita Padilla Morales, age 93, danced her way into heaven on Thursday, January 28, 2021. She was born on March 13, 1927, to Aurelio and Juanita Padilla in Anthony, NM.

She loved dancing so much… She loved to feed people. She was an amazing cook, excellent seamstress, had a wonderful green thumb, and a great work ethic. She worked so hard all her life to provide for her family.

She resided the majority of her life in Salem, NM. She won many awards at the Hatch Chile Festival for delicious food entries. She reigned one year as a “senior” Hatch Chile Festival queen. She was a feisty friend to many but not to all. And she loved to dance. She was a ‘gramma’ at the public school and the Rehabilitation Center of Albuquerque, where she resided the last few years.

She was preceded in death by her parents and three brothers and is survived by her children: Ofelia A. Ruiz (Gilbert), Anna Avalos (Tony), Lupe Massoth (John Bernitz), Mike Castrillo, Marty Ashlock (Tad), 8 grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren, and 7 great-great-grandchildren, numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and extended family, who all loved her very much.

There will be a limited private viewing for immediate family on Friday, February 5, 2021. A livestream of this service and an online guestbook will be available 9am-12pm at Frenchfunerals.com. The graveside service, open to all friends and family, will follow at 3pm in Salem, NM, at the Holy Cross Cemetery.  A memorial celebration will be planned in the future when it is safer to be in close contact with one another. In the meantime, due to the Coronavirus pandemic, the family is requesting that anyone in attendance wear masks and observe social distancing. Jesusita insisted that no one wear black at any services in her honor and her family knows better than to not respect her wishes.

Honorary pallbearers are her son, Mike Castrillo, and her 8 grandchildren, Gina Trujillo, Cindy Trujillo, Gil Ruiz Jr., Bobby Ruiz, Crystal Thomas, Gerald Massoth, Amanda King, and Coral Holguin.

She sparkled brighter than her sequin dresses. Her food was the best. And boy, did she love to dance...