Lucy Barela Sanchez 

Lucy Barela Sanchez 

1933-2024 

Lucy Barela Sanchez, age 90, a resident of Belen, was called home by our Lord and Savior on Friday, April 26, 2024.  

Services will take place at Our Lady of Belen Catholic Church on Monday, May 6, beginning with a visitation at 8:30 a.m., followed by a Rosary at 9:30 a.m. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. with interment following at Our Lady of Belen Memorial Gardens. 

She is survived by her adult children, Anna (Edwin), Joe (Linda “Micky”), Corrine, Isabel, Charles and Bernadette (Manuel); sister-in-law, Frances Barela; daughter-in-law, Cindy; son-in-law, Jerry; grandchildren, Roxanne (Joseph), Jose (Michelle), Richard (Crystal), Lucy (Greg), Michael (Nickie), Erica (Scott), Jennah, Frances (Daniel), Kristie (Michael), Alex (Nicole), Nathan, Carlos, Dominic, Julian (Alyce), and JoAnne; great-grandchildren, Jaelyn, Lauren Jo, Abigayle, Mathias, Abrianna, Sofia, Orlando, Katherine, Elizabeth, Morgan, Henry, Michael, Josh, Janele (Mathew), Bianca, Nichole, Isabella, Ellie, Rosie, Theodore, Ariella, Ayla, Julius, and Renee; two great-great-grandchildren who are expected in July and November 2024; and many nieces, nephews, and friends, all of who loved and were loved by her.  

Lucy is preceded in death by her husband, Joe Sanchez; parents, Romulo and Isabelita Chavez Barela; eight siblings; daughters, Frances Jaramillo and Mary Lucy Sanchez; son, Alex Sanchez; grandson, Lawrence Trujillo; granddaughter, Lauren Carol Silva; unborn baby angels, and sister-in-law, Reina Barela.  

Lucy was a loving mother, mother-in-law, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister-in-law, aunt and friend. She was born on September 24, 1933, in Tajique, N.M., to Romulo Barela and Isabelita Chavez. She was the youngest of eight siblings.  

In 1953 she married her pen pal sweetheart, Joe Sanchez. Joe and Lucy’s brother, Romulo, were both stationed in Korea when in conversation they discovered they had sisters each other’s age. They started writing to them and both married those sisters. Joe passed in December of 1988, leaving her a widow at the age of 55.  

Lucy was a devout Catholic and had a strong devotion to Our Lady of Lourdes, praying the Holy Rosary at least four times daily. She was a member of Our Lady of Belen Parish. When she became homebound and unable to attend Mass, her daughter-in-law, Linda “Micky”, brought her communion to her at home.  

Pallbearers will be Roxanne Shiplet, Richard Sanchez, Erica Jaramillo, Alex Sanchez, Frances Chavez and Julian Silva. Honorary pallbearers will be Jose Sanchez, Kristie Bailey, Jennah Payne, JoAnne Sanchez, Nathan Sanchez, Carlos Sanchez, Michael Sanchez, Lucy Skinner, Dominic Silva, Remijio Barela Jr. and Eloy Lesperance.  

Please sign Lucy’s online tribute at romerofuneralhomenm.com Romero Funeral Home, 609 N. Main St., Belen.