Lucinda (Lucy) Sálaz de Sánchez, age 94, began her eternal life on Saturday, August 27, 2016, in the company of her family at her home of 68 years. Lucy was born on June 20, 1922. She was a lifelong Catholic, loving daughter and sister, student, teacher, wife, mom, aunt, and the absolute best and most patient Grandma. As a young teen, typhoid fever kept her out of high school for one year. Raised in a family of deep faith, her mother nursed her at home, refusing to accept that her daughter would not survive. And survive she did, going on to graduate from the University of New Mexico and teaching for 35+ years. She taught first, third, and fourth grades, retiring in 1981. She went on to substitute teach and became an English-as-a-Second-Language tutor, using the Belen Public Library as her classroom. Lucy was married to Raul Sánchez for 61 years and they had five children. The couple and family traveled extensively, usually by car, ensuring their children never missed an opportunity to visit extended family and friends in the area they traveled to. Lucy always made sure her family made it to Sunday mass even when the family was camping or on vacation. She was and will forever remain the heart of our home. Her family will remember her praying a daily rosary; being an elegant, positive, strong, disciplined, and organized woman of great moral character; being a lifelong learner and dedicated teacher; encouraging her children to be well educated and independent; traveling with her husband at a moment's notice, especially to hold a new grandbaby; jumping double-dutch rope; reading every chance she got; storytelling; meticulously ironing her beloved white blouses; writing letters; scrapbooking; playing word games; and making her signature treats, biscochitos and divinity fudge. She was preceded in death by her husband, Raul; her parents, Salvador and Carlota Chavez de Sálaz; three brothers, José, Fernando and Gilberto Sálaz; and one sister, Rumalda (Rumie) S. Marquez. Lucy is survived by her sister, Eva S. Archunde; three daughters, Lucille and husband, Gilbert Peralta, Georgia and husband, Tom Ware, and Therese and husband, Mark Dinehart; two sons, Dr. Steven A. Sánchez and LTC U.S. Army (retired) John G. Sánchez and his wife, Celine; ten grandchildren; eleven great-grandchildren; five great-great-grandchildren; longtime friends and caregivers Patsy Cannons and Justin Chavez; and many treasured nephews, nieces, and former students. Services will be held on Thursday, September 1 at Noblin Funeral Service Belen Chapel beginning with a viewing at 6:00PM, followed by a Rosary at 7:00PM. A reception will follow at Noblin Funeral Service Reception Room. A final viewing will be held on Friday, September 2 at Our Lady of Belen Catholic church beginning at 10:00AM, The funeral Mass will be celebrated at 11:00AM. Burial will follow at Our Lady of Belen Memorial Gardens. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to Our Lady of Belen Catholic Church or The Good Shepherd Center of Albuquerque, NM, providing services to the homeless (www.goodshepherdcenternm.org). Please remember Lucy by one of her favorite poems, “Happy Thought,” by Robert Louis Stevenson: “The world is so full of a number of things, I’m sure we should all be as happy as kings.” Arrangements are being handled by the caring professionals at the Noblin Funeral Service Belen Chapel, 418 W. Reinken Ave., (505)864-4448