Tess Reis

Tess Reis, 94, passed away on Friday, February 27, 2020, following a lengthy and courageous struggle with several health issues. She was born in Santa Fe to Ray and Margaret Haffey Kersting. When Tess was only four years old her mother died. When her father re-married, she was then raised by her father and stepmother, Mary Kersting. After graduating from Santa Fe High School, Tess worked a year at Santa Fe National Bank in order to earn money to help with college expenses. Tess graduated from the University of New Mexico in 1949 and went to work at Sandia Laboratories where she held numerous secretarial and administrative assistant positions until her retirement. She was an Albuquerque resident for over 70 years.

For a brief time, Tess was married to Hal Emree before his tragic death in a vehicle accident while serving in the U.S. Army. Tess later met and married George Reis and shared 46 years of marriage with him. Together they travelled extensively and became surrogate parents or grandparents to several of their nieces and nephews as they opened their arms and their home to them. Tess was a friend to many, many people. Good friends continued to be a wonderful and supportive part of her life. Care and attention from some of those friends allowed her to stay in her home until her death.

Tess was a lover of animals—especially dogs. Over the years she rescued several different doggies that became an important part of her life. She was the author of a children’s book entitled Sammy – the Real Cool Dog, which she wrote about her dog, Sammy, and herself.

Tess and George were avid Lobo football fans and held season tickets to their games for many, many years. They were also faithful members of St. John XXIII Catholic Community.

Tess was preceded in death by her parents and her first husband, Hal Emree; by her husband of 46 years, George Reis; by her brother, Raymond Kersting; and by her most recent faithful dog, Sammy.

She is survived by her brother, William Kersting (Joanne) of Las Cruces; her sister, Ada Randall of Taos; and her brother, Chris Kersting (Beckie) of Yuba City, CA; her sister-in-law, Betty Kersting of Santa Fe and by numerous nephews and nieces, including Kathy Kersting (Dan Gates) and Terry Randall, both of Albuquerque.

A Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Saturday, March 7, 2020, 10:00 a.m., at St. John XXIII Catholic Community. Burial will be at Santa Fe National Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions to Catholic Charities or to the Animal Humane Association of New Mexico are suggested.