Maria "Mary" Pena Chavez

Funeral Mass for Maria P. Chavez, 98, of Portales will be celebrated at 11:00 AM, Fri., Feb. 6, 2026 at St. Helen Catholic Church by Fr. Sotero Sena.  Burial will follow in the Portales Cemetery with Paul Pacheco, Joshua Pacheco, Isaiah Pacheco, Tommy Pena, Joseph Pena and Tony Pena, Jr. serving as pallbearers.

Maria Pena Chavez was born June 9, 1927 in Pedernal, New Mexico to Apolonia (Padilla) and Segundo Pena., and passed away on Jan. 30, 2026 in Portales.

She grew up near Encino, and married Juan C. Chavez in April 1947, in Las Vegas, New

Mexico.  They moved to Portales in 1966. Mrs. Chavez worked as a dishwasher, cleaned houses for a living.  She was a very hard worker. She enjoyed working on her yard, sewing, and was always in the kitchen cooking for her family. Maria was an amazing mother, grandmother sister, and friend.

She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Tomi and Rosalio Pacheco, Jr. of Portales, two grandsons, Paul Pacheco and Dorothy Pacheco of Fort Sumner, and Dino and Annie Pacheco of Portales, three great-grandkids, Joshua Pacheco of Amarillo, Isaiah Pacheco (Delyla) of Portales, and Alyssa Pacheco of Portales; two great-great granddaughters, Maleeya and Delaiah Pacheco; and a sister, Lucy Sisneros of Rio Rancho. She is preceded in death by her parents; six brothers, Frank, Cruz, Manuel, Raymond, Sam, Carlos and Juan Pena; a sister, Mattie Marquez; and her husband Juan Chavez, who died Feb. 11, 2001 after nearly 54 years of marriage.

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