Consuelo Chavez Griggs Thomas

El Pinto Restaurant Matriarch; Consuelo (Connie) Griggs Thomas (94) passed on just before dawn, September 30, 2021 in her Largo, Florida home. Consuelo was born in Mesilla, NM, where her family opened La Posta restaurant in 1939. The family business afforded the cherished opportunity of attending Loretto School in El Paso. Later Consuelo completed 1 year at Loretto Heights College in Denver, to return to Mesilla to help with the growing family business.

It is at La Posta she met her now deceased husband John "Jack" Thomas. They married and moved to NY starting a family. Ten years later they moved to Albuquerque and in 1962, opened El Pinto Restaurant on the same north valley property as their home. Consuelo daily taste tested the foods and guided the El Pinto ladies in preparing the dishes from her mother’s recipes, Josephine Chavez Griggs. Connie would be present lunch and dinner hours greeting guests. All delighted in seeing her; she was part of the El Pinto experience.

Consuelo is survived by her six children; Stephen (wife, Therese), Flagstaff, AZ, Connie Burnett, St. Petersburg, FL, William, John and Jim and Carla Thomas all of Albuquerque, NM.; 6 grandchildren; Ramona Consuelo and Taylor Thomas, Sean and Alec Burnett, Owen and Tice Kominiak; 1 great granddaughter, Lilah Amelia Burnett!; nieces and nephews, Bridget Griggs, Penny Rose, Mary Jo, Jimmy, Michael and David Moore and deceased nephew Ernest Camunez. .

With much love, her children send Consuelo off on her blessed journey! GardenSanctuaryFunerals. com for more information