Alfred Edwin Esquibel

Alfred Edwin Esquibel

1946-2022

Alfred Edwin Esquibel, better known as Deacon Edwin, passed away at 10:46 a.m., Wednesday, May 4, 2022, at the age of 75 from bladder cancer.

Edwin was born and raised in Belen along with his seven brothers and parents. He attended St. Mary’s school and later graduated from Belen High School in 1965. In 1963, he met his future bride and the love of his life, Kathy Sisneros. They married at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church in Albuquerque on Dec. 9, 1967, and immediately moved to Fort Worth, Texas, where Edwin served in the United States Air National Guard while working for General Dynamics.

During their time in Texas, they welcomed their first two children Celeste and Edwin Jr. In 1974, they moved to Veguita, and it has remained their home for the past 48 years. They opened the Veguita Trading Post in 1976 and welcomed two more children, Ellena and Miguel.

In 1993, after a rigorous training program of many years, Edwin was ordained a deacon for the Archdiocese of Santa Fe. In his lifetime, Edwin wore many hats and held many positions, but his greatest love was to serve his family, friends and community.

He, along with his family, became very active in the Veguita community. With the church, he guided many youth groups, road clean ups, confirmation classes, catechism classes, while supporting every community event with fundraisers, donations and always volunteering his personal time. He was honored to preside over hundreds of Baptisms, First Communions, Confirmations, Quinceaneras, Weddings and Funerals.

Edwin worked most of his adult life in the correctional prison system running many departments, to include the Department of Tourism and many other special projects. At the age of 42, in the mist of raising teenagers, working and studying for the deaconate, he went back to UNM and received his associate degree in computer science.

He was also the Valencia County Jail administrator and later monitored prison system operations across the Southwest long after he retired. Edwin was a constant, gentle spirit that was warm, loving and always had others best interest at heart. He was a rule keeper and never wanted anything for himself. He was all about his children and his family, but he also bent over backwards daily to support others, even strangers.

He was the type of person that could be in the middle of a huge project and would stop everything at the drop of a dime. If one of his children needed help, even if they were needing to roof a house or install a door, he would literally drop everything he was doing to run over and help them.

He was a phenomenal grandpa and great-grandpa. Edwin taught the kids everything from gardening, painting and working with clay, to every detail on various construction projects. Edwin knew how to do everything and was the ultimate handy man.

He was so proud of the home he built. He did plumbing, electrical work, construction, architectural drawings and just about anything else that you could imagine, and he did it all with precise detail. He was a kind, sweet, gentle soul and you could always catch him piddling in his yard, his sanctuary, his kingdom.

He had a green thumb and loved to garden. He was always a jokester and loved to make people laugh, but you would never find him in a crowd of people because he was quiet, reserved, somewhat shy, but overall, extremely humble.

There are three words that best define Edwin, and they are hardworking, loyal and loving.

Edwin was preceded in death by his parents, Ezekiel and Emma Esquibel; his brothers, Ezekiel Esquibel Jr., Donald Esquibel and Johnny Esquibel; his mother-in-law, Antonia Sisneros; and brothers-in-law, William Shover and Ted Beaupre.

Edwin is survived by his wife, Kathy; his children, Celeste and Aubrey Tucker, Edwin Esquibel and Melissa Luna, Ellena and Adrian Tapia, Miguel and Miriam Esquibel; his grandchildren, Danielle and Josh Kim, Jeremiah and Ashley Esquibel, Lucas Esquibel, Mateo Tapia, Mia Tapia, Maximus Esquibel and Marian Esquibel; his great-grandchildren, Erin Miller, Eliza Kim, Hunter Esquibel, Anastasia Esquibel and Tomas Esquibel; two very special bonus granddaughters, McKenzie Luna and MariLisa Ramirez; his brothers, Joe and Peggy Esquibel, Frank and Rita Esquibel, Tommy Esquibel, John and Ruby Esquibel; sister-in-law, Alice Esquibel; father-in-law, Sylvestre Sisneros; his sisters-in-law, who he called his “sisters,” Marge and Jim Lewis, Betty Shover, Louella Sisneros and John Wasinger.

A public viewing will be held from 2-6 p.m., Friday, May 13, at the Esquibel home,1249 N.M. 304, Veguita, NM  87062.  A viewing will be held at 9 a.m., Saturday, May 14, at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Tomé, followed by the Funeral Mass at 10 a.m.

The family will host a reception following the burial, which will take place in Abo.

Arrangements are being handled by the caring professionals at the Noblin Funeral Service Belen Chapel, 418 W. Reinken Ave., 505-864-4448, where an online guest register is available at noblin.com.