Eloisa Carmen Benavidez

Eloisa Carmen Benavidez (née Gallegos)June 26, 1938 – June 11, 2025

With heavy hearts, we share the passing of our beloved matriarch, Eloisa Carmen Benavidez, who left this world peacefully on June 11, 2025, surrounded by the family she loved so deeply. She was 86, just two weeks shy of her 87th birthday, and had lived a life full of strength, warmth, and devotion.

Eloisa was born on June 26, 1938, in the small town of Adelino, New Mexico, to Maria and Manuel Gallegos. She later made Albuquerque her home, where she raised her family and touched so many lives with her kindness and love.

Her greatest pride was her family. Eloisa dedicated her early years to raising her children, making sure they were cared for, guided, and educated. Once they were older, she went to work at Kirtland Air Force Base, where she built a career she was proud of and retired after 20 years of hard work. She balanced motherhood and her job with incredible grace—always putting others before herself.

Eloisa was the heart of our family. Her door was always open, and her kitchen was where memories were made. She cooked with love, and if you ever walked into her home, you probably didn’t leave without a full plate and a warm hug. She lived for music and loved to dance—if a good song came on, you better believe she’d grab your hand and pull you up to dance with her. That’s just who she was—full of joy, full of life.

She was a woman of deep faith who rarely missed a Sunday at church. Her religion meant the world to her and was a big part of what kept her strong through life’s ups and downs.

Eloisa shared a beautiful, strong marriage with her husband Jose “Joe” Benavidez. They were married for 63 amazing years and stood by each other through everything life brought their way.

She is survived by her loving husband Joe, her sons Frank and Tommy Benavidez, and her daughters Gloria Baca and Rita Montoya. She was blessed with 11 grandchildren and 25 great-grandchildren. Among them are Desiree Benavidez Lopez, Monique Benavidez, Franky Benavidez, Felicia Benavidez, and Makayla Benavidez—grandchildren she helped raise and loved like her own children.

Eloisa is now reunited in heaven with her son, Edward “Eddie” Benavidez, and her brothers and sisters. We take comfort in knowing they are together again, probably dancing just like old times.

Services to celebrate Eloisa’s incredible life will be held at the Church of the Ascension, 2150 Raymac Rd SW, Albuquerque, NM 87105. The Rosary will be Friday, June 20th at 6:00 PM, and the Funeral Mass will be Saturday, June 21st at 10:00 AM. She will be laid to rest at Pajarito Cemetery. After the burial, we’ll gather at the Church of the Ascension hall to share a meal, stories, and celebrate the beautiful life she lived.

Eloisa gave her whole heart to her family, and her love will live on in each of us. She taught us how to love fiercely, laugh loudly, and dance without hesitation. We will miss her every day, but we’re so grateful for the time we had and the memories we’ll hold close forever.

From the grandkids and great-grandkids she helped raise, we will always consider her our mother as well as our grandmother, and we are forever grateful for everything she did for all of us.