Solema Newton

Solema passed away peacefully in the care of BeeHive Homes Building B and Amber Care Hospice. She was surrounded by the love of her family, friends and her beloved Second Presbyterian Church family.

Solema was born in Alamosa, CO to Juan Madrid and Viola (Ortega) Madrid. She was the second oldest of five children. She was raised in the San Luis Valley and graduated from Alamosa High School. After graduation in 1950, she married her husband Thomas Newton. They were married for sixty five years until his death in 2015. They had two sons, Thomas Newton, Jr of Rio Rancho and Bruce Newton of Albuquerque. They have four grand children and numerous great and great great grand children.

Solema and Tom moved to Albuquerque in 1952 looking for work. In 1955 they bought a home near San Pedro and Alta Monte on the northern edge of a rapidly growing city. She lived there for sixty seven years until she moved to Assisted Living in 2022. Solema was a full-time mother and homemaker for ten years while raising her young sons. She made sure they were good students, did chores, involved in choir, band, sports and church groups. She was a good cook, sewed clothes, sang in the church choir and belonged to women's groups. In the mid 1960's Solema began her career as a medical secretary at Presbyterian Hospital and then for many years at Surgical Associates until her retirement at age fifty five.

Throughout her life Solema was a dedicated and active member of the Presbyterian Church. She began singing in the church choir in Alamosa at age fifteen. She continued singing in Albuquerque until age ninety when she retired from church choir. She served as deacon, elder, member of the Presbyterian Women's Association, representative to the State Presbytery, served as Clerk of Session for nineteen years, was a delegate to the national General Assembly, member of the Committee On Ministry, and numerous other committees. She served on the board of the Martinez Town House of Neighborly Service for many years. She was also an active member of a PEO chapter.

Family was most important to Solema. She attended countless concerts, sporting events, dance recitals for her sons, nephews/nieces, grandchildren, great grandchildren and the children of her friends. She and Tom would drive several times per month (rain or snow) to visit their parents, siblings and cousins in Alamosa. Every Fourth of July they would go to Pagosa Springs, CO to attend the parade and Red Ryder Rodeo with her uncle and aunt. Solema was also "Nina" godmother to dozens of children. Solema would travel to the west coast and the east coast to visit siblings, aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews. She maintained contact with hundreds of family members.

Solema and Tom loved to travel, camp and fish. They were able to take cruises to Alaska, Mexico and New Zealand with her sister. She also had so many fond memories of traveling in their RV to go fishing, camping and visiting friends and family around the country.

Solema was a devoted wife and partner to her husband Tom. The two of them were a driving force and contributing members of their church community. They were involved in every aspect of church life. They were the bedrock of their family and extended family. They were there for everyone during times of need. Caring for aging parents, raising grandchildren, helping anyone in need, visiting when people were sick and being there when people needed help. Solema and Tom were the ones people turned to for help. In the last ten years of his life, Tom developed dementia. Solema cared for him and still managed to be involved in church and women's organizations. Solema was always there for everyone.

For the last seven months of her life Solema was confined to bed as her health failed. She received regular visits from friends, relatives and her guardian angels of Second Presbyterian Church. She was uplifted when the choir would visit and sing hymns to her. She woke from her semiconscious state when she heard the voice of her pastor. Every week she would ask when will I go to church? One of her happiest moments in her last days was waking from a dream, in which she he dreamed that she was in the kitchen at church cooking for the annual fund raising Mexican dinner. A dinner she had organized and cooked for sixty years. She told her son, "I was in my glory. I was so happy".

The family thanks the wonderful staff at BeeHive Homes and Amber Care Hospice for caring for Solema in the last year of her life. Solema's sons are especially grateful to Solema's church family at Second Presbyterian Church for their abounding love and support for her.

In lieu of flowers or gifts donations can be made to Second Presbyterian Church of Albuquerque.