Theresa de Jesus Sanchez Trahan

Theresa de Jesus Sanchez Trahan 

1931-2024 

With joy and peace, I announce my mother, Theresa de Jesus Sanchez Trahan, has joined Christ, our Savior, in Heaven. She passed away peacefully on the evening of Jan. 30, 2024, of natural causes.  

Theresa was born on Oct. 2, 1931, one of a set of twins; however, Faustin passed as a baby at 3 months. Theresa was raised at her father’s ranch in Scholle, N.M.; the rancher’s daughter was top of her class and captain of the girls’ softball and basketball teams at Mountainair High School.   

Throughout her life, she excelled in her career and lived most of her life in Albuquerque. She retired from the University of New Mexico, and headed up the Navajo education program and career programs. Theresa volunteered and was a leader at the Disabled American Veterans and served the Catholic Church as a Eucharistic minister.  

Theresa was devoted to her husband, John, and stuck with him through thick and thin as he was a disabled military veteran.  She was also a very loving and caring mother to her son, John. Mom was known to family and friends by many nicknames to include “Mother Theresa,” “T” and as the love of her life referred to her simply as “Tiger.”  

Theresa raised her son with the best of two worlds, Cajun proud and New Mexico strong!  

Mom lived the final years of her life with her son, John, and Sheri Schuh Trahan, in Sutter Creek, Calif. During this time, she made us smile and laugh daily. She loved and adored her grandchildren, Lance, Tabby and Joshua.    

Theresa (Mom) is preceded in death by her parents, Antonio and Marianita (Aragon) Sanchez; husband, John Trahan; brothers and sisters, Mary Lee Armijo (John), Juan ”Johnny” (Daisy) Sanchez, Antonio “Tony” Sanchez Jr., Faustin Sanchez, Juanita “Jaynie” Hargis, Baudillio Sanchez and Melva A Sanchez.  

Theresa is survived by her only son and daughter in-law, John and Sheri Trahan II; sister, Eloisa S. Campbell; sister in-law, Mary Sanchez, from Michigan; grandchildren, Lance Trahan, Tabitha Trahan and Joshua Trahan, June and Little D; and many nieces, nephews, cousins, relatives and her devoted loving friends, including Tina Nodel and Effie Broussard (dad’s first cousins, who she loved as sisters.)  

A Funeral Mass will be held at the Our Lady of Belen Catholic Church on at 10 a.m., Monday, March 11, with a viewing at 9 a.m. She will be laid to rest with her husband, John, at 2 p.m., Tuesday, March 12, at the Veterans’ Memorial Cemetery in Santa Fe.