Frances Romero Valdez

Frances R. Valdez Born: June 4, 1935 Died: September 10, 2024

89 years old; surrounded by love and family, our mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother took her last breath September 10, 2024. 

The eldest of nine children, Frances helped her parents with farming, cooking, and taking care of her younger siblings as they traveled throughout California, Arizona, and New Mexico as migrant farmers. She often relayed stories about the crops harvested and places they lived during this time. She began school while in California, bringing English to the family--until elementary school, she and the family spoke only Spanish. Her mother managed to keep her and her siblings in school as they traveled from place to place. The family finally settled in San Antonio, New Mexico, and she was able to attend middle and high school in Socorro. She graduated from Socorro High School, earning a scholarship to the University of New Mexico. She began her college career and met Joe Valdez in her sophomore year. They fell in love and married in September 1956. That started the Valdez family and put college on hold while she raised her children. She returned to college to complete her degree; earning a bachelor’s degree and teaching certificate. She became Mrs. Valdez to 27 years of elementary school students through her career. After retiring from teaching, she was able to turn her focus on to sewing, quilting, and tracing our family’s ancestry. She enjoyed her retirement and is survived by all of her children, her grandchildren, great-grandchildren, several brothers and one sister.