Thelma Ortiz-Vigil

ORTIZ VIGIL- Maria Thelma Cantu Ortiz Vigil passed away October 10, 2010 from complications due to age. She was born July 10, 1926 in La Jara, Colorado to Fedelina Rivera and Lafayette Cantu. After high school, Thelma attended Mount St. Scholastica College in Atchison, Kansas in 1945 to1946. In 1947 she married Paul Rudolph Ortiz (Rudy) in Salina, Kansas. Rudy, born and raised in Monte Vista, CO, had just returned from WWII service in the Mariana Islands. Together they lived in Monte Vista, Espanola, NM then moved to Albuquerque in 1950. They were divorced in 1957. Thelma worked for the University of New Mexico’s Religion in Higher Education program for 25 years, 13 years for The Geneva House and 12 years for The Newman Center. She retired in 1984. In March of 1982 Thelma married Felix Alonso Vigil in Albuquerque. Felix was also from So. Colorado and their families knew each other when they were children. Felix passed away in 1996. Thelma is survived by two daughters, Fedelina Stephanie (Ferron) Wimmer of Ogden, UT, and Jennifer Paula Helzer, Henderson of NV; three grandchildren, Neil Packwood of Woods Cross, UT, Gabrielle Helzer and Mikaela Helzer of Henderson, NV. She was preceded in death by her parents and two brothers, Alfonso Cantu and Lafayette Cantu Jr. Her immediate family will gather to celebrate her life on Friday, October 15, 2010 at 9:00am at Daniels Family Funeral Home, Wyoming Blvd. Thelma’s care has been entrusted to: Daniels Family Funeral Services 7601 Wyoming Blvd NE Albuquerque, NM 87109 (505) 821-0010