Florentina Castañeda Sandoval

Florentina (Castañeda)Sandoval, age 75, life time resident of New Mexico, beloved and devoted wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother and sister, passed away peacefully at her home as she wished, on Sunday, November 23, 2014 while surrounded by her loving family. Her parents, Carlos and Luz Castañeda; sisters, Molly Marquez (AZ), Rose Chavez (Los Lunas, NM); and brothers, Carlos Castañeda and Dennis Castañeda precede her in death. She said her goodbyes to 300 plus people including, family, friends and physicians prior to her passing. She was born on February 3, 1939 in Jarales, NM to Carlos and Luz Castañeda. She was raised in Jarales, NM and a proud graduate of Belen High School in 1957. She loved going to school, enjoyed the choir and praying the rosary with her grandmother, Albina Tapia. She is survived by her husband of 55 years, Manuel S. Sandoval; including her daughters and sons-in-law, Chris & Sylvia Garcia, Joe & Lucille Gutierrez (Phoenix, AZ), Ray & Julie Lopez (Auburn, WA), Michael & Shirley (Lopez) Sanchez and Dorsey & Judi Katschman. Grandchildren: Phillip Lopez (Auburn, WA), Samuel & Kimberly Gallegos, Loren & Lisa Teafoe (Auburn, WA), Edward & Selena Lopez, Kyle & Michelle R. (Lente) Schneider, Christopher & Kim (Lumsden) Garcia, Kara C. Katschman (step) Staci S. Lente, Michael Sanchez and Laura S. Katschman (step). Great-grandchildren: Olivia, Zachary, Lola, Sienna, Kayla (step), Ella, Jordan, Mikaela, Landon, Noah, Brianna and Jonah. Brothers and sisters-in-law: David & Marie Castañeda, Robert & Roberta Castañeda, Gerald & Annie Castañeda and sister Jennie Ortiz. Florentina C. was a homemaker and survivor as her health was compromised in 1975 due to kidney failure. Her brother Robert unquestionably donated his kidney to her and after 13 years unfortunately, it rejected. She was given another miraculous opportunity for life with a spontaneous cadaver donor and this carried her to the end. She was the first recipient of a kidney transplant in the state New Mexico and only survivor to this age from that era. She is currently a case study for the School of Medicine in Minnesota as to how she has beaten the odds given her complex and extensive past medical history. She accomplished this by trusting her physicians to guide her to the best quality of life so she could raise her children, support her husband and live to see her grandchildren and great grandchildren. Ultimately, her positive outlook on life in general allowed for this. She had numerous in-laws, nieces, nephews, cousins and friends, which were very dear to her heart. She loved relentlessly. She enjoyed the company of laughter, music, surprising others and most dearly, prayer. She will leave a huge void in many of our lives as she hands off the baton. All services will be held at St. Anne's Catholic Church, 1400 Arenal Road SW, Alb, NM, 87105, on December 1, 2014 at beginning with recitation of the Rosary by her niece Viola Chavez at 6:30 PM. Mass will be celebrated on December 2, 2014 at 9:00 AM, with burial to follow at 11:15 AM, at the Santa Fe National Cemetery. A Reception will follow at Elks Lodge in Santa Fe. Arrangements entrusted to Riverside Funeral Home of Albuquerque, 225 San Mateo Blvd. NE, (505) 764-9663.