Virginia (Bustillos) Chacon

Virginia Bustillos Chacon was born on May 20, 1920, in Mogollon, NM. She was the 4th child of twelve, born to Cruz and Virginia Bustillos, eleven daughters and one son. She had a fun childhood, playing with her siblings and local children. She enjoyed playing outside and learned horseback riding, becoming so proficient at it that she would even ride bareback. As she got older, she and her three older sisters helped her mother take care of her younger siblings. Unfortunately, her father passed away when she was fourteen, leaving her mother a widow with all those children to raise. They had a relatively large house at the time, so in order to have an income she converted their house into a boarding house. This enabled her mother to pay bills and it offered a place to stay for men who worked in the silver mines and farms. In order to maintain the boarding house, her mother pulled the four oldest daughters out of school and that included Virginia. Virginia mostly helped in the kitchen, cooking for the family and the boarders. It was during that time that she developed her skill at cooking and became a wonderful cook and baker. Flour tortillas became her specialty, and not only would her family love to eat one of them fresh off the com al, but so would her friends. She was the world's best at making tortillas!

Although helping out at the boarding house kept her busy, she caught the eye of one young man, Alfonso Chacon, and on August 15, 1936, they married. They both enjoyed the outdoors, especially in the mountains. She had four daughters: Gloria, Pauline, Ramona and Elvira. Both Virginia and Alfonso wanted to make sure that their daughters had a good education since they both were taken out of school in their childhood. They enrolled their daughters in a Catholic school, St Mary's Academy. This gave all four daughters a solid educational foundation. Alfonso worked in the mines around Silver City, NM until he had an opportunity to work in the uranium mines near Grants, NM in 1954 and they remained in Grants permanently. Because she had a strong devotion to her Catholic faith, she became very involved at St Theresa of Avila parish, attending daily mass and helping with many of their activities.

She is predeceased by her husband Alfonso Chacon, daughter Gloria Chacon, grandson Aaron Peña, and son-in-law Richard McBride. She is survived by her daughters: Pauline Bova and husband Lou; Ramona Peña and husband Johnny; and Elvira McBride. She had five grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren, two step-great-granddaughters and two great-great granddaughters. She is also survived by her grandchildren: lvanna Shipman and husband Bryan and family; Andrea Ewert and husband Bill and family; Gordon Peña and wife Heidi and family; Enrico Bova and wife Erica and daughter. She showered them all with love and devotion, leaving them wonderful memories that will be with them always.

Pallbearers: Bill Ewert, Adam Ewert, Dominic Ewert, Jeremy Ewert, Orlando Silva, Cruz Bustillos, Tom Torres.
Honorary Pallbearers: Aaron Peña, Gordon Peña, Enrico Bova, John Michael Shipman, Ivanna Shipman, Andrea Ewert