Cornelia A. Sisneros, age 101, passed away quietly on Sunday morning, March 1, 2015 at the Colfax General Long Term Care Facility in Springer, New Mexico.
Cornelia was preceded in death by her parents, Amalia Valdez and Frederico Arellano, her husband, Joe Sisneros, and her partner, Augustine Vigil, her brothers, Albert T. Valdez and Ernest John Valdez, her sister Alice Valdez, her daughter, Josie Duran, two grandchildren and various relatives.
She is survived by her children Rudy Sisneros and his wife Rose of Grand Junction, Colorado, Fred Sisneros of Cimarron, Rachel Ricklefs and husband Bob of Cimarron, Bernadette Martinez and husband Lencho (Albert) of Cimarron, Penny Coppedge and husband Barney Coppedge of Cimarron and eighty grand -children and great -grand children and at least forty great-great grandchildren.
Cornelia was born in Springer, New Mexico on January 18, 1914. She attended school there and married Jose Pablo Sisneros and became a homemaker. After Joe’s death Cornelia continued to raise her family in Springer. She was known as a great cook in the area. She cooked at the Zia in Springer then at Vermejo Park where she loved cooking for the cowboys. Later she moved to Cimarron with her two young daughters and her son Fred. They lived at Philmont for a time. She cooked at the Idle Hour Café and Dee’s Restaurant, then she managed the Kit Carson Best Western Inn for the next fourteen years. After working in Cimarron for many years, she moved to Angel Fire and ran another café for Mini Steen. She returned to Cimarron and cooked the Cree Mee until her retirement. She helped her daughters with their children both during her working years and during her retirement. Cornelia was an active member of the Immaculate Conception Church of Cimarron; she was especially good friends with Father James Vance, Sister Hildegard-Smith and other nuns who came there in retirement.
Cornelia was a very fun-loving, generous, hard-working person who enjoyed all people, but especially the youth. She loved basketball, and therefore, her family asks that in lieu of flowers, you may make a donation to the Cimarron Ram Pride Booster Club.
Services for Cornelia A. Sisneros will be held in Springer, New Mexico at the St. Joseph’s Catholic Church on Friday, March 6, 2015. The rosary will be at 10:00 am followed by the funeral mass at 10:30 a.m. Viewing for Cornelia will be in Raton on Thursday, March 5th at the Alderette-Pomeroy Funeral Home from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm.
Arrangements for Cornelia A. Sisneros are under the care direction of the Alderette Pomeroy Funeral Home of Raton.
