Henrietta A. Curley was born on May 15, 1943, in Parmelee, South Dakota. She peacefully passed from this life on May 27, 2026, in Shiprock, New Mexico. She was the daughter of Henry and Jessie Peneaux and the youngest of eight children.

Henrietta came from the Sicangu Lakota Oyate Tribe, which translates to “The Burnt Thigh Nation.” Historically, the name is derived from an incident in which warriors were fleeing through a grass fire on the plains. The Sicangu Lakota Oyate people reside on the plains of the Rosebud Indian Reservation in Rosebud, South Dakota.

Henrietta also had French heritage through her paternal grandfather, William Peneaux, who was French. Perhaps that is a good explanation for why she loved French fries so much! It was one of the many simple joys she enjoyed throughout her life.

Henrietta spent her childhood and adolescent years in South Dakota, surrounded by her family and community.

As a young woman, she left South Dakota to continue her studies in California. While there, she met her future husband, the late Justin H. Curley Sr. After dating for a few months, they decided to marry and make their home in New Mexico, where Justin was from. They were married on December 25, 1969, and together they were blessed with five children.

Henrietta worked as a crossing guard, a lunchroom worker, and a nanny, a position she enjoyed. Later in life, she enjoyed spending her retirement years with her husband, Justin, and being surrounded by her family.

God was always first in Henrietta's life, and she was a good and faithful servant to Him. She truly loved to pray and centered her life around her Christian faith. She implemented these values in her children, who value them and will continue to carry them forward in her honor.

Henrietta was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Justin H. Curley Sr.; her daughter, Vida Rose Curley; two babies lost before birth, Jessie and Chris Curley; and her parents, Henry and Jessie Peneaux.

Henrietta is survived by her sons, Dustin (Veronica) Curley and Justin H. (Winona) Curley Jr.; her daughters, Justina (Edwin) Brownhat and Lucinda Betonie; four grandsons, seven granddaughters, one great-grandson, five grandcats, and two granddogs.

A funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, June 3, 2026, at Farmington Funeral Home and will be officiated by Andy Hall. A viewing will follow the service. Burial will take place at Greenlawn Cemetery at 1:30 p.m.

The family invites relatives and friends to join them for a reception following the burial at 2:30 p.m. at the Farmington Civic Center.

Serving as pallbearers will be Dustin Curley, Edwin Brownhat, Justin H. Curley Jr., Joe Curley Sr., Zachary Padilla, and Annika Curley.

Justina and Dustin would like to express their sincere gratitude to Dr. Sara Michaels, the staff at The Bridge at Farmington, our family and friends, and above all, God, for giving us our mother.