Marie V. Ortega

Marie V. Ortega, age 89, died peacefully, Monday, November 7, 2016 at her home of 48 years near Sanders, Arizona, after a brief struggle with cancer. Marie was born November 15, 1926, in Alexandria, Louisiana, the daughter of Francis and Cecilia Vanderlick. Marie lived on her family farm in Alexandria during her youth and graduated from Providence Academy High School in 1944. She then moved to New Orleans where she lived at Charity Hospital School of Nursing for 2 years, training to be a nurse. In 1947 she was sent to Fort Defiance, Arizona, as part of the Cadet Corp, to work as a nurse. In 1948, Marie married Armand P. Ortega in St. Michaels, Arizona. Armand and Marie raised 6 children while operating several Trading Posts in New Mexico and Arizona. They were married for 66 years, until his death in 2014. Marie prioritized education and knowledge attainment, for herself, her children, and her 16 grandchildren. She was an avid reader, enjoying fiction and non-fiction alike and was a season ticket holder at Red Rock State Park for many years, taking anyone who might want to go to see whatever concert, show, or talk was coming through town. She was a devout Catholic, attending services at St. John the Evangelist Church in Houck Arizona, regularly until her death. Marie is survived by her 6 children, Armand Ortega Jr. (Anita) of Sedona; Larry Ortega of Sanders; Amelia (Brett) Crowther of Los Lunas, New Mexico; Bill (Vicky) Ortega of Santa Fe, New Mexico; Anna (Dave) Dallago of Gallup, New Mexico; and Arthur (Julianne) Ortega of Phoenix; sister, Dorothy Hollingsworth of Shreveport, Louisiana; brother, Dan (Mary) Vanderlick of Cheneyville, Louisiana; brother, Walter (Ann) Vanderlick of Alexandria, Louisiana; 16 grandchildren; and 26 great grandchildren. A Rosary will be held Friday, November 11, 2016 at 11:30 a.m. at Sacred Heart Cathedral, 415 E. Green St, Gallup, New Mexico, with a Catholic Funeral Mass following at 12:00 noon. Interment will be held at Sunset Memorial Park following the Funeral Mass.