Elreena Angela Montoya Gallegos

Elreena Angela Montoya Gallegos 

1946-2023 

Elreena Angela Montoya Gallegos, 77, passed away on Tuesday, Sept. 26, 2023, at her home with her family after a long courageous battle with Alzheimer’s Disease. 

Elreena was born on Sept. 26, 1946, in Albuquerque to Elda and Fred Montoya. She grew up in Albuquerque, attended St. Vincent’s Academy and graduated from St. Mary’s High School in 1964. She attended the University of New Mexico, where she studied early childhood development. 

Elreena married Ben Ronald Gallegos on Jan. 27, 1968, and made her home in Albuquerque until September 1971 when they moved to Santa Fe, N.M. 

Elreena worked as a teacher’s aide in elementary schools there and as a child care specialist for the state of New Mexico. They moved to Los Lunas in 1982 and she continued her career as a child care specialist in Albuquerque until she retired in 2003. 

Elreena enjoyed gardening, raising chickens, rabbits, geese, ducks, sheep and peacocks. She loved baking, especially gingerbread cookies and her famous double chocolate zucchini cake. 

Elreena is survived by her husband of 55 years, nine months, Ben; her daughter; Melissa Lyn Gallegos Ybarra and husband, Tony; son, Fred Ronald Gallegos and wife, Anna; grandsons, Anthony Joseph Gallegos, Luis Miguel Ybarra and Marco Antonio Ybarra; and granddaughter, Sylvianna Maria Ybarra, all of Albuquerque.  

Also surviving Elreena are her special aunt, Amelia Andrews; cousins, Ana Martin and Phillip Andrews; special cousins, Sylvianna Van de Water, Denise DeValle (Billy), Sally Colonna, Vangie Madrid, Patricia Denson, Dorothy Holder (Joe), Ron Cox (Eileen),  Elizabeth Mares, Kathleen Montoya (Richie), Angela Abate (Stephen), Michael Gus Montoya, Randy Montoya (Debi), Maury Brown (Suzy), Karen Weaver (Jim),  Jennifer Jones (Joel), Melanie Cole (Mark), Marylou Estelle (Pete), Bobby Chavez (Darby), David Chavez and Tommy Chavez. 

Elreena is also survived by her husband’s immediate family, Rita Gallegos Logan (Mike), Charles Gallegos (Mary Louise), Patricia J. Gallegos D’Angelo and Phillip Gallegos; and close friends, Pearl Fishel Lucero (Herman), Mavis Esparza and Suzette Varoz Miera (Jerry). 

Special thanks to Elreena’s Ambercare hospice team, Kira, Melissa, Jennifer, Celestina, Joel, Catie, Bill, Roseann and Monique. 

Cremation has taken place through French Funerals and Cremations, and a private interment was held at Mt. Calvary Cemetery.  

Please visit our online guestbook for Elreena at FrenchFunerals.com. FRENCH-University, 1111 University Blvd. NE, 505-843-6333.