- Date Of Birth: April 24, 1940
- Date Of Death: August 25, 2022
- State: New Mexico
Maria Elena “Nena” Zapata Lopez, 82, of Bayard passed away on Thursday, August 25, 2022 at Gila Regional Medical Center surrounded by her family.
Nena was born on April 24, 1940 to Valentina (Altamirano) and Aniceto Zapata. She married Fernando “Freddy” Lopez on October 28, 1967. Together they made a home in Bayard for almost the last 55 years. Nena was a devoted catholic she was very faithful; she was always praying. When Nena wasn’t praying, she was in the kitchen. She loved to cook, she often made galletas, tamales, cakes, and chile, frijoles y tortillas que no faltaran. You never left her house hungry. Nena was mostly a homemaker, but she did work cleaning homes for many years for different families in Grant County. She also worked in housekeeping at the EconoLodge in Silver City. While Nena had no children of her own, she helped raise 3 kids who came to call her Grandma, Kenny and Kyle Joseph and Julene Jaeger.
Nena is survived by her husband Freddy of the home a special Friend/Son Angel Guerrero (Monica) a niece who was raised like a sister Aggie Vigil of Las Cruces and numerous nieces and nephews. Nena was the last of her siblings to pass on. She is preceded in death by her parents and brothers Willie, Manuel, Lico, Tony, and Ysidro Zapata and sisters Luz Sepulveda, Rosa Lopez, Cecilia Garcia, Elisa Bojorquez, and Amelia Dominguez.
