Mary Gonzales Jeantete, a first lady of Taos, dies at 91
A former first lady of Taos, Mary Gonzales Jeantete died peacefully at home, surrounded by family on Oct. 11, after battling cancer. She was 91.
According to her daughter Rosemary Jeantete Gallegos, she “married the love of her life,” former Taos mayor Eloy Jeantete, on Valentine’s Day, Feb. 14, 1951. “They built a life of love together for 69 years.”
“We had a good, good life,” husband Eloy, age 92, said Oct. 16 about their 69-year marriage. “She had to put up with me for all those years. We were married on Valentine’s Day and the next day I had to ship out for Korea.
“She always told everybody she only married me because I was the only guy in town who had a car,” Eloy said, laughing at her sense of humor.
“Mom had so much influence on her children,” daughters Cathy Aragon and Rosemary Gallegos said in an email Friday (Oct. 16). “Her unconditional love permeated our lives. We knew she was always there for us. She was at every family celebration with her love – baptisms, first communions, birthdays, weddings and graduations of her children and grandchildren.
“She embraced her children’s spouses, often reminding us how lucky we were to have such wonderful partners,” they continued. “Her example of partnership with my dad for so many years helped us choose well and foster strong bonds with our husbands and [our brother’s] wife. Her vivacious spirit and pride commanded respect from her husband, children and grandchildren. She taught us that all people are to be treated with dignity and care. We all just wanted to make her proud. We still do.”
Mary was born in Taos, Nov. 26, 1929 and was raised in La Loma, a notable hill-street neighborhood in Taos, off Lower Ranchitos Road,
as was Eloy. He said they grew up as neighbors and later, just out of high school, they both worked at the former First State Bank on Taos Plaza.
She graduated in 1949 from Taos High School and attended Central Business College in Denver. After college, she worked for First State Bank, Cal Adams One Stop, Río Grande Drugstore and Gas Company of New Mexico.
Devoted to family and community, her daughters said their mother gave of herself “unstintingly” all her life. She was honored with many civic awards throughout her lifetime, including Woman of the Year and Taos Living Treasure, and was recognized in 2019 by Taos Feeds Taos for her many years of service on the TFT Board of Directors.
Her daughters said their mother was often described by others as “gracious and elegant. She was so polite in her interactions and always so grateful and kind to those around her. She was an amazing first lady when my dad was mayor, always by his side, and loving the town of Taos as much as he did.”
Taos Feeds Taos President Francis Córdova acknowledged Jeantete’s huge contributions and said, “Mary will be greatly missed and it has been an honor to work with her.”
Fellow Taos volunteer Ernestina Córdova said, “Mary worked with me in Taos Feeds Taos for many years. We did the basket recipients and qualified the applications for distribution. She worked tirelessly with us and never complained. In 2019 Mary resigned due to her health. Taos Feeds Taos took great pleasure in honoring her for her many years of service.”
Texas transplant Judy Weinrobe recalled Jeantete’s kindness to her through their years together.
“When I first became involved with Taos Feeds Taos in 2012, Mary was one of my mentors. One of my jobs was to input client information on the computer and then Mary and I would proofread to check for errors.
“Having very limited Spanishlanguage skills, my pronunciation of proper Spanish names was lacking. Mary, being the kind and patient person, would gently correct me. Sometimes stifling a laugh. But I so appreciated her ‘lessons’ and tried my best. After a couple of years of this, Mary one day said, ‘I think your Spanish is improving!’ I could not have been prouder! As I watched her interact with others, I could see the respect and kindness she offered everyone and I hope that I have learned those lessons also. Her dedication to Taos Feeds Taos – the program, volunteers and recipients – is appreciated and her efforts will be missed.”
Besides Taos Feeds Taos, Jeantete was a volunteer for many more local organizations, including Girl Scouts of America, Taos Chamber of Commerce, Las Taoseñas, Taos Guadalupanas, Our Lady of Guadalupe Altar Society, Community Against Violence and Holy Cross Hospital Auxiliary, of which she served as president and was a member for 27 years, according to Eloy.
“And, she was involved with everything I was involved with when I was mayor,” Eloy said, including his Kiwanis work, among many other civic and town activities
Mary Jeantete was also an active member of the Taos County Historical Society, said TCHS president and Guadalupana member Ernestina Córdova, noting how Mary always helped with all Guadalupana activities, such as supporting pilgrims to Chimayo.
“Mom had many ‘dichos’ or sayings, with lessons that are a part of our beings,” daughters Rosemary and Cathy said. “Some of those imparted to us on a daily basis were: ‘Don’t work too hard, just hard enough,’ ‘We all do what we have to do’ and, to calm us when we lost something, ‘It has to be somewhere,’ which it always was. She told [us] stories of how her own mother hated gossip, ‘La lengua mata,’ or ‘Gossip kills.’ “
Jeantete’s tenacity was wellknown and reportedly amazed her medical staff, how she tolerated the cancer treatments.
“After being ill from treatments, she was on her knees washing the floor in her house, which she loved to take care of, ‘because that was the only way to do it right’,” her girls fondly remembered her saying.
“Mom was very open-minded and was one of the easiest people to talk to,” they continued. “She was interested in religion and politics and we loved to talk together about the state of the world and our obligations to make things better and to vote.”
Eloy and Mary had three children: Stephen (deceased) (Roberta); Catherine Aragon (Frank); and Rosemary Gallegos (Robert). They were blessed with 10 grandchildren: Andres, Alejandro, Dominic, Angela, Sarah, Bernadette, Ruth, Theresa, Rebekah and Stephen; and six great-grandchildren.
Mary is preceded in death by her parents, Leonides and Rosaura Gonzales; siblings Luciano (Andrea); Arturo (Soveida); Leopoldo (Mary); Juanita Baca (Leopoldo); Robert (Loretta); Joe (Lorraine); Elivira Blan (Sam); Alfonso-Choncho (Martha); and Gilbert (Cecilia).
“Her unwavering faith, even in the most trying of times, has been an inspiration and statement of love,” the family stated in their obituary online. “She has been a perfect teacher in showing others about caring and concern for those around her. Mary will be sorely missed by her family, friends and community of Taos, but her spirit remains a guiding light. Many thanks to all those who supported her in her final days.”
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made on behalf of Mary Jeantete to either: Community Against Violence, 945 Salazar Road, Taos NM 87571 or via PayPal; or Taos Feeds Taos, PO Box 234 Taos NM 87571.
Private services will be held at a later date, with arrangements by Rivera Family Funeral Home, Taos. To share a memory, visit the family’s website at riverafuneralhome.com.