Lourdes I. Elias

Lourdes Irene Elias, of Albuquerque, NM, passed away Monday, May 11, 2020.

Born in Santa Fe on September 25,1951, she was the daughter of the late Arthur C. and Flora M. Sanchez. She was a graduate of St. Vincent's Academy, class of 1969, and The University of New Mexico, class of 1972. She served as the Director of Patient Accounting for Eye Associates, Presbyterian, and Lovelace Medical Center for over 30 years. Prior to her career in Patient Accounting, she taught Math at Fatima Catholic School. She was a member of Queen of Heaven Catholic Church and was active in the Parish Council at Sangre De Cristo Catholic Church. She also worked with the Right to Life Foundation for a number of years.

Lourdes was always known as the family paparazzi because she always had her camera either in her hands or around her neck. Each and every family gathering or vacation is easily remembered in vivid detail, in large part due to Lourdes' pictures or planning. If Lourdes wasn't taking pictures or getting them developed (or downloaded, as technology progressed), she was busy planning the next family vacation. She took her family all over the world, from Hawaii all the way to France, as well as many other places over the years. She planned all of her hubby and son's golf trips from Kapalua to Pebble Beach, as well as many other courses throughout the years. Lourdes was always focused on her family, and devoted a lot of time to making sure everyone was taken care of at all times. It was very important to her that her parents spent their final years comfortably in their homes.  She spent hours providing care to them and much of her own money to ensure this goal would come to fruition, which it did.  All the while, she raised three children and was highly involved in their lives.  She welcomed her children’s spouses with open arms, and nothing but love and acceptance, as if they were an extension of her own family.   Eventually, she experienced the joy of becoming a grandmother.  She graciously provided care to them and doted on them like only Grandma can.  She loved to buy tchotchkes for her family members for any and every holiday, major or minor.  As you can imagine, she was very fond of the Oriental Trading magazine! She was the best, most thoughtful, joyful gift giver and loved to help wherever she could.  There was nothing she wouldn’t do for her family and always with a smile on her face and no expectation for anything in return. Family gatherings will be a lot emptier without Lourdes' vivacious presence. 

When Lourdes wasn't behind the camera, she was a doting mother of 3. She always helped with the various school functions her kiddos were involved with, such as golf team and soccer. She coordinated the yearbook for a number of years at Queen of Heaven Catholic School. She was always busy but always managed to find time for anyone that needed it. She was most certainly the glue that held the Elias family together.  She will be sorely missed.

Lourdes is survived by her husband of almost 47 years, John Elias; her kids Jae and Mary Elias, Robby Elias,and JoAnn and Damien Chavez; and her grandchildren, Brooklyn and Jaedyn Elias.  

Lourdes will now get to see the family that pre-deceased her, her son Paul Elias, mother Flora Sanchez, father Arthur Sanchez, sister Joan Fisher, and brother Sam Sanchez.