Margaret Roybal

Margaret was born on March 18, 1916, the oldest child born to Mary Smith Garcia and Samuel Garcia. She lived her early years in Albuquerque, moved to El Paso, then returned to Albuquerque while still a child. Her father died when she was eleven, and she worked hard to help her mother raise her three younger brothers. After marrying Larry Roybal in 1937, the couple opened a small restaurant near Old Town. After they closed the restaurant, she occasionally worked with her husband in other endeavors, but spent the majority of her time with her two young children. She was a devoted Catholic and was one of the founding members of the St. Therese of the Shrine of the Little Flower Church, volunteering in numerous fund-raising efforts and cooking for countless church dinners. She was also an active participant in bowling leagues and enjoyed going dancing with friends. In the early 1960's, after her divorce, she became the owner and landlady of a small apartment complex. For over fifty years, while she worked as bookkeeper, plumber, cleaner, painter and handy-woman extraordinaire, she was the foster-mother, guidance counselor, personal advisor and positive role model to hundreds of tenants. Many of those who moved into one of her apartments found a life-long friend. During the 1970's, she was a member and served on the board of the Solo Club. She won a few trophies for dancing, but was most proud of her cooking for fund-raising dinners. While a member at the dance club, she met James (Jim) Godlevski and they married in 1976; they divorced in 1979, but remained good friends. A generous table was important to Margaret, and for many decades, generations of her family would gather during important holidays to sit down and enjoy her culinary talents. Traditional New Mexican food was her forte, and her posole, red chile and biscochitos will be missed by many. When not working in the apartments or cooking great food, she enjoyed embroidery, growing giant tomatoes and finding the best sale in town. She was an active woman and blessed with good health for most of her life. In 2003, she battled and defeated cancer. Her doctors, amazed by her tenacity and strength throughout chemotherapy and radiation treatments, declared her cured in 2005. Margaret (known as Lale to her grandchildren and great-grandchildren) always placed family first and strived to be an example of generosity, hard work, good hospitality and faith. To all who knew her, she was a self-assured, gutsy, independent, unyielding LADY. She dressed perfectly for any occasion (whether cleaning drains or a night on the town) and never left the house without a pair of classy dark glasses and a scarf to keep every hair in place. She was quick to help anyone in need, always had a funny story to tell and loved laughing with friends. Margaret is survived by her children, Larry Roybal and his wife, Elaine and Clara Tibbets; grandchildren, Beate Roybal, Carmen Tibbets and her husband, Paul Brunkow, Teresa Tibbets and her husband, Tom Rangitsch, Anthony Roybal and Maia Roybal Chaney and her husband, Ryan; great-grandchildren Celeste Estes, Ethan Estes, Alex Garber, Anthony Ray Roybal, Santiago Roybal, Samantha Roybal, Morgan Chaney, Julian Chaney, Pablo Rangitsch and Taran Rangitsch; her brother, Joseph Garcia and his wife, Rosemary; and many nephews and nieces. She was preceded in death by her ex-husbands, Larry and Jim, and her brothers, Samuel and Fred Garcia. A rosary will be recited on Friday, June 21, 2013 at 6:00 p.m. at St. Therese Little Flower Catholic Church, 300 Mildred NW, with visitation from 5:30 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. Funeral mass will be held on Saturday, June 22, 2013 at 9:00 a.m. at St. Therese Little Flower, with burial to follow at Mt. Calvary Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made for Memorial Masses at St. Therese Little Flower (505-344-8050), paid in the memory of Margaret Roybal.