Dolores Lenila Romero-Arellano
( January 17, 1927 – June 24, 2023 )
Dolores Lenila Romero-Arellano passed away peacefully at home, in El Cajon, CA, surrounded by loved ones. She was born on January 17, 1927, in Dawson, New Mexico, but lived most of her life in Springer, New Mexico where she met the love of her life, Margarito Arellano. Dolores was a loving wife, mother, sister, daughter, grandmother, and great-grandmother who was always there for her children, grandchildren, many nieces, nephews, and cousins.
After raising her two boys, Michael and Ramon, Dolores volunteered for St. Joseph’s Church where she served in the Altar Society for many years as Secretary Treasure and taught First Holy Communion classes. She also maintained, cataloged, and filed historical documents while volunteering at the Chamber of Commerce. And when no one volunteered to be a scout leader for the Girls Scouts, Dolores stepped in as role a model to the next generation of independent girls.
In addition to her altruistic endeavors, Dolores had many hobbies including fishing, camping, and painting. She loved painting acrylic landscapes but enjoyed experimenting with various mediums (oils, sketching, and doodling) and different subjects (animals and portraits). This hobby afforded her the opportunity to meet many great friends throughout the years. Although she was a self-taught artist, her talent was undeniable and many of her paintings were raffled off to raise funds for the St Joseph’s Parish. She never sold them and would give them to many friends and family. In fact, a few of her paintings are currently on display at the Springer Museum, City Hall, and St. Joseph Parish Hall.
Dolores is now reunited with her loving husband Margarito Arellano; her parents: Abenicio Romero and Esquipula DeAguero-Romero; her siblings: Ernest Herrera, Luis “Louie” Romero, Alfonso Herrera, Hilario “Eloy” Romero, Viola Romero-Garcia, Francisco “Frank” Romero, and Roberta Romero-Ortiz.
Dolores is survived by her children: Michael Cruz and wife Cindy Cruz of Albuquerque, NM along with Ramon Arellano and wife Dr. Allison Loeffler of La Mesa, CA; her grandchildren: Sidney, Brenda, and Rebecca and their mother Vivian Myers; her eleven great-grandchildren: Joshua, Kalyn, Marcelino, Haley, Shayna, Calvin, Kylee, Mikaela, Hannah, Vivian, and Sydney; her nine great, great-grandchildren: Adrianna, Zaden, Ezzrah, Lenyx, Nicholas, Xzayvian, Asiah, Aiyanna, and Marcelino Jr.
Special mention to her niece Lorraine Garcia-Clifford, her best artist friend Ms. Dotty Cotton, and her in-laws: Lt Col Bernard Loeffler (Ret) and his wife Loletta Francis-Loeffler.
Recitation of the most Holy Rosary will be on August 12, 2023, at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Springer at 10:00 a.m. recited by Ed Olona. The Rite of Committal and Inurnment will follow at the Springer Cemetery.
Dolores’s family would like to invite you to join them in celebrating Dolores life with a Luncheon at St. Josephs parish Hall in Springer. We look forward to sharing her memories and with the many people she impacted during her lifetime.
Arrangements for Dolores Lenila Romero-Arellano are under the direction of the Alderette-Pomeroy Funeral Home.
