Oralia Valencia

Oralia Valencia, 90, of Blanco, New Mexico, passed away peacefully on April 19, 2026, in Blanco. She was born on April 1, 1936, in Salazar, New Mexico, to Eulogio Gonzalez and Evangelina (Jaramillo) Gonzalez.

Oralia graduated the eighth grade and then dedicated herself to helping support her family. She later met the love of her life, her “honey,” Joe Seledonio Valencia, while working as a waitress at The Iceberg Café in Bernalillo. Together, they built a life centered on family, faith, and hard work.

Oralia worked as a cook at Bernalillo Elementary School and was a devoted homemaker. She took great pride in caring for her husband and children, always ensuring her home was filled with warmth, love, and the aroma of her cooking, especially her famously delicious red chile.

A woman of deep faith, Oralia was a longtime member of St. Rose Catholic Church in Blanco, where she attended Mass regularly until she was no longer able to. Her faith was evident in her daily routines, beginning each morning with prayer before rising and continuing with her 5 p.m. prayers each day.

She found joy in life’s simple pleasures, including crocheting, reading The Examiner, and watching her favorite television shows such as Jeopardy, Wheel of Fortune, and classic westerns. Above all, she cherished time spent with her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

Oralia was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Joe Seledonio Valencia; her son, Ray Martin Valencia; and her parents, Eulogio and Evangelina (Jaramillo) Gonzalez.

She is survived by her sons, Ralph Valencia, Christopher Valencia, Joey Valencia, and Jessie Valencia; her daughters, Haroldean Mora and Mary “Vangie” Archuleta; her grandchildren, Sara Kimmell, Orry Matthew Valencia, Anthony Seledonio Anderson, and Savannah Mora; and her great-grandchildren, Ethan Kimmell and Matthew Kimmell. She leaves behind a legacy of love, faith, and devotion that will live on through her family.

A Rosary will be recited at 9:30 a.m. on Monday, April 27, 2026, at St. Rose Parish in Blanco, New Mexico, with Father Francis Akano officiating. Confessions and the Funeral Mass will follow.

Interment will take place at 11:30 a.m. on Monday, April 27, 2026, at St. Rose Cemetery in Blanco. A reception will follow at St. Rose Parish Hall.

Pallbearers will be Ralph Valencia, Christopher Valencia, Orry Valencia, Anthony Anderson, Jessie Valencia, and Jeff Alcon.