Norma Vargas

NORMA JEAN VARGASWas born August 30, 1943 in Abilene, Texas to Doyle and Edra Hopper who preceded her in death. Norma met the love of her life in 1962, David A. Vargas, while attending The Presbyterian School of Nursing. She graduated February 22, 1963 and she and David celebrated their lifelong commitment on September 19, 1964 at St. Charles Borromeo Church. Prior to that on June 12, 1964 she was baptized into the Catholic faith. Her sponsors were Samuel R. Tafoya and Patricia Ann Tafoya. Norma's parents moved to Aztec, New Mexico in the early 1960's where she graduated from Aztec High School. There she was active in pep squad and sang in the school choir. She was musically talented and could play any instrument she picked up and had the voice of an angel. Norma loved playing the organ and piano during church services and amazed every one with her beautiful voice and her repertoire of old traditional Spanish hymns. She also volunteered to play at weddings and could play and sing love songs with the best of them. Norma Vargas was a natural born caregiver and as a nurse working with premature babies was a shining star as all her nurturing skills came to the forefront. She left nursing ironically to move back to Aztec, New Mexico when her husband, David, accepted the job of San Juan County Manager in Aztec, the county seat. Norma was also a talented multi-media artisan and during this period of her life perfected her quilting skills. Her hand quilted bed spreads were extraordinarily beautiful and became highly sought after. She won many awards for her creativity and design. She was also an accomplished seamstress and delighted in making custom clothes for family and friends. Additionally, she and her mother, Edra, would spend countless hours crocheting afghan blankets, sweaters, booties, and vests to donate to senior nursing homes and new born babies. Throughout her life she loved spending time with her grandchildren, "Her Babies", in her arts and crafts room making Christmas ornaments, doll clothes, scrap-booking, water coloring, and whatever else the babies wanted to do. She even took time to be a scout Den Mother. Norma and her daughter Andrea were of one mind regarding The Dallas Cowboys and politics and both would spend long hours discussing how they would and could improve both if only they would listen to them. The two boys, Shawn and David Jason, pretty much went their own ways. Shawn was the athlete and David Jason the musician. One is retiring from Bernalillo County after 26 years and the other is an electrical engineer. And, of course, Norma was a band booster and athletic booster mom. The daughter, also an accomplished musician and athlete, became an award winning artist. Norma was proud of all of them. Norma loved pets and if a kid found a newborn cat or bird, she would hand feed them until she could find a home for the cat or until the bird was strong enough to fly away. Her personal pet was a jet-black cross between a Shar-Pei and some other undetermined breed. She named him "El Rey", The King. But she referred to him as her "Baby", and boy is he spoiled. El Rey loved to be hand fed Coronado wieners, but had to perform tricks Norma taught him in order to receive the treat. Along with the humans in the house El Rey is in mourning and still waits at the top of the bedroom stairs for her. Norma had a passion for custom cars and loved showing cars she and her husband owned including a candy brandy wine 1935 Grand Master Deluxe Chevy, a white 1965 Impala she named "Vanilla Ice", a 1948 DeSoto, her personal driver a 1987 original Cutlass Supreme Oldsmobile, and a 1935 Barnes pedal car customized to look like the '35 Chevy. All in all the cars won over 50 trophies including best in show and people's choice awards. In fun Norma and her family created a family only car club, The Alpha Dogs. Norma delighted in wearing her Alpha Dogs colors because it made her feel powerful. The cars have been passed on to her grandsons. Norma loved parades and it became a family tradition to build and enter floats in the City of Albuquerque Twinkle Light Parade and the New Mexico State Fair Parade, where they billed themselves as the South Valley Hillbillies. Not only did the floats win numerous awards it was a way to bring the family together to make memories that even cancer cannot take away. Norma was also active in the Sun Star Neighborhood Association. After returning back to Albuquerque, Norma returned to school to refresh her nursing skills and to study medical terminology. She worked in customer service as a patient advocate at Presbyterian Hospital for 15 years before retiring to take care of her aging parents until their deaths seven years later. Norma started having symptoms of the cancer that took her right eye and eventually her life in January, 2012 and had all the doctors and emergency room visits diagnosed her disease sooner she may have been saved. But, that's another story that has yet to be played out. Cancer may have taken this kind and gentle lady from her loving family but it did not take her faith in the Good Lord nor did it take her nurturing spirit. Even to the end she was asking everyone if they were all right. She is no longer in the terrible pain that she suffered with dignity, a strong will, and courage that was an inspiration to her family. Whenever she experienced pain she went to her "happy place", her babies. And, as we believe in The One and Only God we know she is in a better place. The family believes God needed a nurturing angel at his side. You had to have known Norma to realize how gifted and talented she was because it is impossible in this brief celebration of her life to list all her accomplishments, the love and compassion she had for her family and friends and the caring nature of her soul. To her family she was a gift from God never to be forgotten and it has to be said that she was the most wonderful wife and mother and grandmother anyone could hope for. Norma passed the way she lived. In the dignity of her home surrounded by family, her babies and friends and of course her loving pet El Rey. We love you Norma and until we meet again may God hold you in the palm of His hands. You are now with some of your babies, grandson David Shawn Atencio, nephews Charles David Tafoya and Lawrence Charles Vargas, niece Monica Vargas, and your favorite Aunt and Uncle Grace and Bob Pyeatt and of course your Mom and Dad, The Dears, and Grandma Mary and Grandpa David. Take good care of them until we meet again and please look after me your husband. I need you to be here for me. Rest in peace sweetheart. You are my everything. A consequence of her life and the way she lived it, Norma handled the pain in a much different and better way than so many in her situation. Her death was a reflection of the way she always strove to be in life - gentle, caring, strong, courageous, dignified, and without excessive complaint. Norma ended her journey here on August 21, 2012 at 4:25 PM. She is survived by her loving husband, David, of 48 years (September 19, 2012); three children Shawn, Andrea and husband Bill Camp, and David Jason and wife Kathy; six grandchildren Jessica and Shawna Vargas, Jeremie and Jasmine Atencio and Ryan Camp, and Stephanie and David Vargas; and seven great grandchildren Barbara and Jade Atencio, David Atencio, Zia, and Autumn Arellano, Isaiah Jaramillo and Javi Sosa; Brother, Bo Hopper and wife Lari; nephew Carl Hopper and niece Mary Hopper; sisters Patsy, Debbie, Rita, Terry, and Cara Vargas; and brothers Richard, Lawrence, and Marty Vargas. Pall bearers are Shawn Vargas, David Jason Vargas, David Alan Vargas, Bill Camp, Ryan Camp, Jeremie Atencio, and Raymond Tafoya. Services will be held Saturday, 25 August at Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary Catholic Church on 5415 Fortuna Rd NW, Albuquerque NM 87105. They will commence with visitation beginning at 9:30 AM, the praying of The Holy Rosary at 10:15 AM, followed by Mass at 11:00 AM. Cremation will follow the services.