Sylvia M. Gomez

Sylvia M. Gomez (Nana), age 83, passed away Sunday, June 14, 2020 surrounded by her family.

Her family wishes to express their sincere gratitude to all relatives and friends who were so kind and supportive during this time.  She will fondly be remembered and always greatly missed.

Sylvia was born in Dulce, New Mexico on September 5, 1936 to Fidel and Rosa Lohman Gomez.  She was a strong-willed, loving woman of faith and a devout Catholic.  She was truly the matriarch of her family.  After raising six children, she assisted in raising some of her twenty-seven grandchildren and twenty-eight great-grandchildren, instilling in them the importance of faith, education and family.  She influenced many of her nephews and nieces as well.

As a youth, she attended Aztec and Blanco New Mexico schools with honors.  As an adult, she attended community college in Utah and went on to become a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) employed at Ogden Regional Hospital in Ogden, Utah before moving back to New Mexico.  Sylvia had many skills and was never hesitant in learning new ones.  During her life, she worked as a waitress and for many years as a drapery seamstress for Sears and JCPenny, both in Salt Lake City and in Albuquerque.  She worked in her brother Fidel's many retail businesses in Hawthorne, Nevada, where she learned she had the natural skills for floral designing and again moved back to Albuquerque where she worked in and managed several floral shops.  Sylvia then retired in 1996.

Sylvia's favorite past times were her grandchildren, reading books and tabloids, chatting with her sisters, exchanging little jokes and playing games on her cell phone.  She enjoyed embroidering and cross-stitching, crocheting and quilting.  Her favorite TV shows were The Golden Girls, Matlock, Blue Bloods and old westerns.  She loved receiving and listening to music with her loyal companion and beloved dog, Casper, who was always at her side.  She loved sharing meals with her children, especially her grandchildren at her favorite restaurants: Ho-Lo-Ma, Pelican's Seafood, Olive Garden and Taco Bell.  Sylvia had a passion for plants and gardening and truly had a green thumb.  So much so that she found joy in mail ordering plants and bulbs year-round and receiving them was even more exciting for her and for any family member that was available to plant them.

She is survived by her children: Michael De Herrera (Jana) of Tooele, UT, Tony DeHerrera (Shauna) of Chama, NM, Roberta Gabaldon (Paul) of Placitas, NM, Bernie DeHerrera (Leanna) of Sandy, UT, Nadine Smith (Darren) of Albuquerque, NM, and Theodore DeHerrera (Dolores) of Albuquerque, NM; all her grandchildren and great-grandchildren, aunts, many cousins, nieces and nephews.  Sylvia is also survived by her sisters: Rosalia Hernandez of Albuquerque, NM, Amalia Matlock for Reno, NV and Dora Easton of Lake Havasu City, AZ.  She was preceded in death by her father and mother, Fidel and Rosa Gomez; brother, Danny Gomez; brother, Fidel Gomez, Jr.; sister, Olivia Armenta; brother, Rubel C. Gomez; infant granddaughter, Autumn DeHerrera; and former husband, Robert DeHerrera.

A Rosary will be recited on Friday, July 24, 2020 at 10:30 a.m. at Sangre de Cristo Catholic Church, 8901 Candelaria Rd NE, Albuquerque, NM 87111 with a Mass of Christian Burial immediately following with Father Thomas Kayammakal presiding.

Pallbearer will be Michael DeHerrera and Honorary pallbearers will be: Andre DeHerrera, Jason DeHerrera, Dante DeHerrera, Alex DeHerrera, Emiliano Martinez and Robert DeHerrera.

The family would like to give a special thank you to her nephew, Gabriel Armenta, who often checked on her and to Benny Romero, her neighbor, who often helped with anything she needed when the family wasn't available.

Interment will take place at Gate of Heaven Cemetery and Mausoleum, 7999 Wyoming Blvd NE, Albuquerque, NM 87109, immediately following Mass.

Covid-19 restrictions may still be in place, therefore, only five people will be permitted at the gravesite.

Reception to follow at a location still to be determined due to said restrictions.

To view information or leave a condolence please visit www.danielsfuneral.com  
Daniels Family Funeral Services
7601 Wyoming Blvd NE
Albuquerque, NM 87109
505-821-0010