Josephine Waconda

Age 77, a resident of Isleta Pueblo, passed away Tuesday, January 1, 2013. She is survived by brother, Michael H. Trujillo M.D and his wife, Kathro Anne; daughters, Patricia Abeita and Karen Waconda- Lewis; sons, John Waconda Jr. and Lawrence Waconda; grandchildren, Amy Jiron, Catherine and Maureen Abeita, Camille, Lenora, Amanda, Royce and Erin Waconda and Aaron Jiron; great-grandchildren, Noah J. Beardsley, and Brooke Jiron. Josephine was preceded in death by her husband, John E. Waconda Sr. Josephine was raised in the villages of Paraje and Casa Blanca on the Laguna Pueblo. She and the family operated a ranch in Corona, NM. She retired from the U.S. Public Health Service, Indian Health Service (IHS) in 1997 after 30 years of service as an Assistant Surgeon General (Rank 08). She was the first American Indian woman to achieve rank of Rear Admiral in the Commissioned Corp of the U.S. Public Health Service. She served as director for the Albuquerque Area IHS from 1987-1997. She currently was President of the New Mexico Indian Nurses Association and a member of the American Indian Nurses Association, Isleta Pueblo Health Center Board and the St. Augustine Parish Finance Committee. Rosary will be recited January 5, 2013 at 2:00 pm at St. Augustine Church, followed by Mass at 12:00 pm, Sunday, January 6, 2013. Interment will take place on Monday, January 7 at 9:00 am at Santa Fe National Cemetery.