Robert Orlando Atencio

Robert Orlando Atencio, 82, of Albuquerque, NM was called to his eternal home with Our Lord and Savior on the early morning of July 6, 2022 after being surrounded for several days by his loving wife, children, grandchildren, siblings, and loved ones. 

Robert was the second son born to Leonides and Adela Atencio in the small town of San Luis, Colorado. He grew up learning to work on the farm, helping his father raise livestock, grow and till the land, and build just about anything including adobes which he used to remodel his family home. He worked hard, and there was little Robert didn’t know how to do.

At the age of 18, Robert moved to Albuquerque, NM with nothing more than the clothes on his back. He worked at the St. Anthony Orphanage for boys for many years while raising his own young family of five children. Robert would tell stories of the times he would give the boys haircuts, or drive them on field trips, and how much fun it was being around his own and other young children. Later, the St. Anthony Orphange became the Albuquerque Job Corps that housed young people who were sent to learn a trade.   Robert cared and took pride in the mentorship he was able to give to the young adults at the Job Corps. 

Robert worked most of his life from sunup to sundown, managing his own Lawn Service business for many years. Along the way, he instilled this same work ethic and caring nature in his seven children.  

Robert also knew how to laugh and play. He had a deep love for music, dancing, teasing, and telling jokes. Robert loved to spend time visiting people in person, the old-fashioned way. On Sunday afternoons, he would bring his wife Theresa and his children to visit many of his customers who’d become friends, or he’d take them on car rides to visit his family in Colorado.  Connection with people and his community meant the world to Robert. 

Robert and Theresa went on many adventures together. They took trips to over a dozen states, the Bahamas, and Mexico many times! Their adventures always included much laughter, and their vacations were always something he and Theresa looked forward to. Robert loved his wife very deeply and wasn’t afraid to tell others how beautiful and kind she was to him.

Robert loved the outdoors, especially fishing and camping. He also had a deep faith that was instilled in him by his beloved grandfather, Lenchito Atencio. Robert would often tell stories of his grandfather taking him by the hand as a young boy and walking him to church on Sundays. Robert’s legacy of love, laughter, grit, determination, unfailing faith, family values, and adventure are easily recognized in his children and grandchildren. 

Robert is survived by his wife Theresa Atencio; his six children and their spouses: Joseph, Mario and Annette, Ray and Lori, Carlos and Joanna, Monica, Sonja and Kenneth; his 12 grandchildren:  Morrison, Venicio, Xavier, Jose, Tomas, Joshua, Jacob, Jason, Veronica, Sean, Shane, and Jesus; his 10 great-grandchildren: Hallie, Barrett, Eli, Preciosa, Karianna, Katalina, Nathalia, Shaiyler, Cillian, and Finnley; his brothers and sister: Ray, Carlos, and Veronica; and numerous precious cousins, nieces, nephews, family, and friends. 

He is preceded to heaven by his parents Leonides and Adela Atencio, daughter Mary Atencio, sister Manuelita “Mela” Martinez, brother Joseph “Pepe” Sanchez, and brother-in-law Gilbert Mondragón. 

A rosary will be held on Wednesday, July 27, 2022 at 6:00 p.m. at Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary Catholic Church, 5415 Fortuna Rd NW, Albuquerque, NM 87105 . A Catholic mass will be held on Thursday, July 28th, 2022 at 10:00 a.m. at Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary Catholic Church, 5415 Fortuna Rd NW, Albuquerque, NM 87105. Burial will immediately follow the funeral mass at Mt. Calvary Cemetery, 1900 Edith Blvd NE, Albuquerque, NM 87102. A reception for family and friends of Robert will be held in the family gathering space at Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary immediately following the burial. 

Arrangements entrusted to the caring professionals of the 

TRUJILLO FAMILY FUNERAL HOME

110 Alvarado Drive SE

Albuquerque, NM, 87108

(505) 433-7747