Gloria Cecilia Santillanes

Gloria Cecilia Santillanes, 79, of Albuquerque, passed away on August 14, 2024 after a short illness. Gloria was born on October 3, 1944 to Juan and Amalia Santillanes, in Las Vegas, NM. Gloria graduated from Dora High School in 1962. As a young woman she moved to Albuquerque where she began a long career in administration at Ed Black’s Chevrolet, and later Casa Chevrolet where she worked until her retirement. 

Gloria loved to visit with family and friends and enjoyed keeping in touch with everyone sharing the latest family news. Gloria was a second mother to her nieces and nephews, of which she had many. She loved sharing stories of her childhood, as 1 of 12 siblings, in San Geronimo, NM. Gloria was extremely generous with what she had, and was quick to pick up the check at restaurants, to pay for hotel rooms for visiting family members, and helped those she loved in countless ways. Gloria never missed a birthday or special occasion, having always sent a card to each family member every year. 

Gloria was a strong and independent woman who was self-reliant and lived according to her own terms. She loved to travel and visited far away lands including Greece, the Holy Lands, England, Egypt, U.S.S.R., and Jamaica. Gloria was also interested in history and family history in particular, having done much research on the Santillanes and Lopez family trees. She loved to read and listen to music, her favorites included traditional New Mexican Rancheras and the Beatles. Gloria was a basketball fan and watched many UNM Lobos games at the Pit. She was a devoted Catholic, attended church regularly when she could, and prayed ceaselessly for the wellbeing of others.

Gloria was preceded in death by her parents Juan and Amalia, as well as her siblings Lourdes, Percy, Bob, Reinaldo, Kathy, Apolonio, Fred, and Gilbert. She is survived by 3 brothers, John, Michael, and David, as well as many cousins, nieces, nephews, grandnieces, grandnephews, and other loved ones.

Funeral services will be held in Albuquerque at Queen of Heaven Catholic Church, 5310 Claremont N.E. on Friday, September 6th at 1:30 pm for the Rosary, followed by Mass at 2:00 pm.