MARIA ELENA AYALA

Maria Elena Ayala of Los Lunas and Albuquerque died on

September 4, 2021.

Maria Elena was born in Santa Fe on November 11, 1952 to Presente A. Baca and Louise Duran Baca. She attended Loretto Catholic Girls Academy in Santa Fe. However, she was a member of the first co-ed high school class to graduate from St. Michaels Boys Academy when they combined both schools in 1969. She went on to earn her undergraduate degree, a BA from St. Lewis College in Durango, CO. In 1974 she competed her MA degree in Education at New Mexico Highlands University. Then she spent several years in Bakersfield, CA, where she taught and provided counselling services at the elementary school level. Upon leaving California, Maria Elena and Zeferino Ayala moved to Albuquerque where she was a teacher/counselor for the Albuquerque Public School Systems before she and Zeferino relocated to Los Lunas, NM to continue teaching and counseling in the Los Lunas Public School System. After completing her teaching career Maria Elena was able to follow her dream of helping and assisting people in her community using natural healing methods and very old remedies (remedios). Inspired by her grandmother, Elena learned the ways of the curandera (traditional Mexican healer).

Maria Elena is survived by her husband, Zeferino Ayala; two sons, Zeferino and Octavio; and her daughter Victoria Godman (Jim), and their two children, Carlina and Gino Godman. She is also survived by her siblings, Maxine Baca Zinn, Alvin Baca and William J. Baca.