Emma Maria (Bustamante) Baca

The Rosary for Emma Maria Baca, 95, of Portales, will be recited at 1:00 PM, Thurs., Dec. 29, 2022 at St. Helen Catholic Church.  Mass of the Resurrection will be celebrated by Fr. Francisco Carbajal at 2:00 PM.  Burial will follow in the Portales Cemetery with Jonathan Baca, Michael Baca, Cory Baca, James Baca, Aron Baca, Paul Gutierrez, Eric Baca and Gilbert Baca serving as pallbearers.  All other grandchildren will be honorary pallbearers.

Emma Maria Baca was born June 11, 1928 in Hiawatha, UT to the home of Isidora (Urioste) and Epifanio Bustamante and died on the evening of Dec. 25, 2022 in Clovis, NM.  Mrs. Baca grew up on the Gonzales Ranch near Villanueva, NM.  It was in Villanueva that she married Florentino Ruben Baca on Jan. 4, 1950.  They moved their family to Portales in the mid to late 1950’s, and Portales remained her home for the rest of her life.  For several years, in addition to being a wife and other, Mrs. Baca worked as a house keeper for various ladies in the community.  She also worked some at the Help Center.  She and Mr. Baca always raised a large garden, and sold their produce at the Farmer's Market.  Mr. Baca was a member of a small band, and Mrs. Baca enjoyed going with him to the dances.  Dancing, camping, going to the lake and visiting with her family and friends were the things she enjoyed most.  She also liked to watch soap operas on the television.  Mrs. Baca was a member of St. Helen Catholic Church.

She is survived by four sons, Bobby Baca, Steve and Arbie Baca, Phillip and Doris Baca and Eddie and Diane Baca all of Portales; a daughter, Carol and David Gonzales of Clovis; 15 grandchildren, 39 great-grandchildren and 5 great-great-grandchildren; and one sister, Epifania Gutierrez of Portales.  She was preceded in death by her parents, three brothers, Pasqual, Placido and Juan Bustamante, three sons, Rudy, Henry and Louie Baca, a daughter Toni, and by her beloved husband, Florentino Baca who died Mar 19, 2020 after more than 70 years of marriage.

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