Sandra Louise Armijo

Sandra Louise Armijo 

1945-2023 

Sandra Louise Armijo, age 78, a resident of Belen, died peacefully, surrounded by her family on Dec. 8, 2023. She was greeted by our Lord Jesus Christ, and we believe ran into the arms of the love of her life, Jake.  

She was a member of Our Lady of Belen Catholic Church. She was a former finance volunteer for OLB, counting weekly church offerings. When her kids attended St. Mary’s, she was an active volunteer on various committees and in the classrooms. After a successful career as a full-time mom, she returned to the workforce in the early 1980s in the banking industry. She had a successful career at Ranchers State Bank and eventually retired from Wells Fargo in 2007.  

In 2020, Sandra and Jake celebrated 55 years of marriage. She made sure everyone knew the four greatest gifts dad ever gave her were her four kids. Mom made our childhood house a “home,” and she and Dad made the four of us who we are today.  

She enjoyed doing yard work with her Jake, knitting, playing the piano (classical was her forte), listening to music, watching games shows, doing the Albuquerque Journal daily crossword puzzle, adult coloring (she won first place in a Belen Library contest), cooking, baking for Christmas, dancing (she and Dad always made an impression on the dance floor), and spoiling her grandkids. However, she disliked ironing and made sure everyone knew that.  

She and Jake and Rocky enjoyed many years of camping in New Mexico and Colorado. She adored her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, making each feel individually like they were her favorite. We will all miss her sense of humor, laughter, mashed potatoes and homemade salsa.  

Sandra is preceded in death by her husband, Jacobo “Jake” Luis Armijo; her parents, Otoniel and Ernestina Sanchez; sister, Teresa Sanchez; brother, Michael Sanchez; nephew, Quin Sanchez; in-laws, Jacobo and Mattiana Armijo; and brother-in-law, Daniel Armijo.  

She is survived by her four children and their spouses, Denise and Chris Jaramillo, Jacob and Cassaundra Armijo, Aaron and Diane Armijo and Theresa and Randy Sanchez. Gram Mijo is survived by grandchildren, Andre and Jordan Jaramillo, Jacob Alan (Katie), Patrick (Alex) and Matthew Armijo, Adam (Joanna) and Dylan Armijo, Heather (Alex) Werder and Coy Sanchez; great grandbabies, Sonny, Toby and Birdie Werder, Amilia Sanchez and Caroline Luisa Armijo. 

Sandra is also survived by her brothers, Raynaldo Sanchez, Carlos (Lydia) Sanchez and Andrew Sanchez; and numerous nieces and nephews. Lastly, she is survived by her special little four-legged boy “ Rocky.” 

Services will be held at Our Lady of Belen Catholic Church on Thursday, Dec. 14. A viewing will begin at 8:30 a.m., with a Rosary and eulogy to be recited at 9:15 a.m., and a Funeral Mass to be celebrated at 10 a.m. Interment will follow at Our Lady of Belen Memorial Gardens.  

Pallbearers are Andre, Jordan, Jacob Alan, Patrick, Matthew, Adam, Dylan and Coy. Honorary pallbearers will be Katie, Alex, Joanna and Heather and Alex.  

A very special thank you to her caregiver Maria Diaz, who evolved into her best friend, the caring staff at Good Life Senior Living, and Hospice of NM, namely Alyssa and Johnny.