Petrita (Pita) Zoraida Sanchez

Petrita (Pita) Zoraida Sanchez , 85, entered a new life on Thursday, February 15, 2018.

Pita was born in Santa Rosa, NM. Her parents,Jose Z. and Adelina R. Sanchez, raised her, her brother Joe and sister Tina in a one bedroom house on 3rd st. She had close ties with her grandparents who lived in a small community near Santa Rosa, Colonias de San Jose. These Catholic Communities played an important role in her spiritual formation. Her whole life revolved around the church. In 1951, upon graduating from Santa Rosa High School, she entered the Order of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Boston. She entered college in Framingham, MA, Boston College, Boston State College, St. Michael's In Santa Fe, NM and UNM.

Although her degree was in education, Pita also had extensive courses in counseling. Pita taught is Parochial Schools in Massachusetts, Santa Fe and Santa Rosa for 18 years. In 1972 she began a new career in teaching at public schools and adult education in Albuquerque. After 40 years, she retired but began doing volunteer work. She especially enjoyed tutoring and also working with the elderly. Upon hearing an inspiring homily on stewardship at Immaculate, she volunteered to work with the elderly at St. Mary's Nursing Home, where she assisted at a weekly Mass and Prayer Service.

Besides helping at the Nursing Home, she drove the elderly for groceries and to the doctor. When someone from the parish was needed to serve as extraordinary Eucharistic minister at the Heart Hospital, she not only volunteered to serve in this capacity, but also coordinated the schedules for the ministers at the Heart Hospital. Attending a weekly Bible study at Immaculate, under the direction of father Joe Vanderholt, was also one of her favorite activities. In 1997, Pita was selected to receive the "Adult Educator of the Year" award for the many years she had dedicated to teaching adults. Then in 2009, much to her surprise, she received the "Immaculta Award" from her parish.

In 2002, Pita joined the Associates of the Sisters of St. Joseph, who are men and women who share in the faith journeys with the sisters of St. Joseph of Boston in a mission of unity and reconciliation. So, from her humble beginnings in Santa Rosa, she has continued in her life of service at Immaculate Conception Church in Albuquerque.

Pita's Life Celebration will begin with a Rosary on Tuesday, February 20, 2018 at 9:00 a.m. at Immaculate Conception Church, located at 619 Copper Ave NW, 87102, followed by Mass at 10:00 a.m. A second Mass will be held on Wednesday, February 21, 2018 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Rose of Lima, located at 439 S 3rd St, Santa Rosa, NM 88435. Burial will follow Services at San Jose Cemetery in Santa Rosa, NM.

Pallbearers will be Johnny Aragon, David Padilla, Ken Blaskovits, Arturo Cordova, Ernie Woodley, and Charels Mitchell.