Opal LaVerne (Derley) Tenbrink

Opal L. Tenbrink, 95, passed away the morning of April 12, 2021. She was the devoted and loving wife of John H. Tenbrink sharing 63 beautiful years of marriage together. She was born in Lewis, KS the youngest daughter of Joseph Victor and Lulu Mae (Wilkerson) Derley. She was a farm girl and her mother's shadow. She graduated from Lewis High School and attended secretarial school in Wichita, KS. In 1945 she went on to work at Beech Aircraft where she eventually met the love of her life. She followed John to Albuquerque, NM shortly after they married in 1951 where she worked at Sandia National Laboratories. After leaving the labs, she flourished as a homemaker. She took great pride in supporting John in all of his endeavors. Opal was a member of Our Lady of the Annunciation Parish since the early 1950's. She was also an active member of the Catholic Charities Adoptive Mothers Group, Sandia Laboratories' Coronado Thunderbirds, she volunteered at the Albuquerque Civic Visitors Bureau, and in her later years participated in the 20/20 Club for Low Vision. Through the years she enjoyed ballroom dance, line dance, and many years of square dancing with the Rio Grande Squares.

Opal was a social butterfly and enjoyed people. She loved to stay informed about what was new and happening and was always up for a good time.

She will be remembered for her exceptional class and grace, her perseverance and tenacious spirit, her unabashed curiosity, her laugh, beautiful hair, fondness of ladybugs, and longtime love of Mickey and Minnie Mouse.

Opal is survived by her son, J. Michael Tenbrink of Abilene, TX; grandchildren, Melissa Jabour (Michael Martinez), Christina (Wesley) Cockrell, Jennifer (Brian) Gammage and Ian (Christine) Tenbrink; great-grandchildren, Lucas Cockrell, Kaitlyn and Aiden Jabour, Haley and Lainey Gammage, and Autumn Tenbrink. She was preceded in death by her husband, John H. Tenbrink; daughter, Julie A. Murray; her parents, Joseph Victor and Lulu Mae Wilkerson; her sisters, DeEtta Gaston, Loraine Searls, and Fern Hartman; and brothers, Cecil, and Carl Derley.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to New Mexico Commission for the Blind.

Opal's family would like to thank the staff at The Watermark at Cherry Hills Assisted Living for their caregiving services and vibrant quality of life provided for the last several years and especially during the last year when COVID-19 prevented visitors from entering the community. Several caregivers went above and beyond to ensure that she was happy, loved, and well cared for. Her family would also like to express their deepest gratitude for Maria, her longtime private caregiver and friend for her love and care in her last years.

She will be loved and missed dearly by the many people whose lives she touched.

Visitation for Opal will be Wednesday, April 28, from 5:30-7:30p.m. at FRENCH-Wyoming. Attendance is limited to a maximum of 10 people, per 1 hour intervals. Family and friends planning to attend are kindly requested to RSVP to reserve their time slot. A Rosary will take place Thursday April 29, at Our Lady of Annunciation Parish, 2621 Vermont Street NE, at 10 am followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 10:30 am. Entombment will follow at Gate of Heaven Cemetery.