Loretta Angelina Armenta

Few people knew her story because, while she never forgot where she came from, she was blessed with a grateful heart and the wisdom to let go of anything that didn’t bring more light into the world. Loretta Angelina Armenta was born November 24, 1943, and departed March 6, 2019, after a courageous three-month battle with aggressive kidney cancer. Loretta was known for her advocacy for all human rights, especially those specific to the roles of women, mothers, and families. She also was respected for her business leadership and relentless dedication to those less fortunate. Loretta often told her grandchildren how lucky she had been to survive a difficult childhood of poverty and go on to experience a world she had never imagined. In their late twenties, Loretta, and husband Ray were gifted a son born with rare birth defects. Andre’s struggles inspired Loretta to begin advocacy for the March of Dimes, an organization she went on to lead before moving on to leadership positions with Prudential insurance, a 15-year career as President of the Albuquerque Hispano Chamber of Commerce and President of Qwest NM. Loretta met one-on-one with President Ronald Reagan to successfully secure legislation to support families of disabled children, advised President Bill Clinton on immigration issues and hosted President George W. Bush in Albuquerque when the Hispano Chamber opened the doors to its new home in the South Valley. Loretta lead delegations to Mexico and the USSR to share the American experience as the mother of a disabled child and community activist. She was a visionary who cared deeply about others. More than all of her accolades, Loretta will be remembered as a loving wife of 57 years to Ray Armenta; a selfless mother to Monica, Denise and Andre; the proud and devoted LaLa to grandchildren Alejandro Armenta Vigil, Diego Armenta Vigil, Andrea and Adryana Maestas and sons-in-law Edward Vigil and Eddie Lucero and dedicated former son-in-law and father of Andrea and Adryana, Paul Maestas. Loretta was preceded in death by son Andre Armenta and brother Joseph Sanchez. She is also survived by her mother, Flora Sanchez; two brothers, Anthony and Marvin Sanchez; and an army of cherished family members and friends.

Services for Loretta will be held Friday, March 15, 2019 at 9:30 a.m. at Risen Savior Catholic Church, 7701 Wyoming Blvd. NE, followed by a reception at the National Hispanic Cultural Center, 1701 4th St. SW, in Albuquerque.