Mary Eloisa (Rivera) Aguilar-Lee

Mary E. Aguilar-Lee, 88, of Bernalillo passed into the care of our Heavenly Father on Saturday, September 10, 2022, surrounded by her loving children. Mary was born in Sile, New Mexico, to José Leandro Rivera and Linda Rael Rivera. Mary was born into a ranching family and loved being at the family ranch in the Jemez Mountains hiking, reading, or tending to her yard and gardens. Mary was foremost a loving mother whose children were the most important part of her life. Mary was also a loving grandmother and great-grandmother, and she was never happier than when she was surrounded by her large family. Mary entered the workforce after starting her family and retired as a Vice President of United New Mexico Bank in 1988. Mary was a woman of faith, a lifelong member of the Catholic Church, and a proud member of the Catholic Daughters of the Americas Court #1671.

Mary is preceded in death by her parents José and Linda Rivera, her husband Hipolito Aguilar, her husband Manly B. Lee, her daughter Cecile Baca, her sister Bertha Silva, and her brother Joe A. Rivera. Mary leaves behind her children Hipolito J. Aguilar and wife Patricia, Bernadette A. Wilson and husband Steve, Mary Rose Abousleman and husband Gary, Patrick D. Aguilar, and Christopher J. Aguilar and wife Gretta; her son-in-law Martin R. Baca; her stepsons Dennis S. Lee and wife Melissa and Tom E. Lee and wife Christi; twelve grandchildren; eleven great-grandchildren; her sister Miranda R. Sapien and husband Bill and her brother Ray Rivera and wife Mary Rose. The family would like to give a special thank you to Mary’s caregivers, Lupita Aguilar, Leticia Rodriguez-Diaz, Sonia Verrett, and Lucia Garcia, who loved her and gave her the best care possible.

A rosary will be recited at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, October 21, 2022, at Our Lady of Sorrows Church, 301 Camino Del Pueblo, Bernalillo, NM. The Mass of Christian Burial will take place at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, October 22, 2022, also at Our Lady of Sorrows. Interment of cremated remains will take place at the Bernalillo Catholic Cemetery in Bernalillo following Mass. Pallbearers will be Mary’s grandchildren.