Evangeline Gallegos Quintana

Our beloved Mother and Friend Evangeline G. Quintana 84, known by many as “Vangie”, a resident of Taos, NM passed away in the early morning of November 14, 2017 in Albuquerque, NM. She was born Maria Evangelina Gallegos to Luis R. Gallegos and Josefa de Belen Casados Gallegos on December 17, 1932 at home in the community of El Guique, NM near Espanola. She grew up with four siblings Raymond, Edulia, Archie, and adopted cousin Elizida Martinez. Evangeline attended San Juan Parochial School and graduated high school in the top of her class at Santa Cruz Public School, Santa Cruz, NM, class of 1951. She then attended New Mexico Highlands University where she met and married Carlos "Herman" Quintana and became Evangeline G. Quintana in December 1953. They enjoyed 32 years of marriage before Herman passed away. She graduated from NMHU with degrees in Chemistry and Education in the spring of 1954. Evangeline settled in Taos where she became an elementary teacher for the Taos Public Schools. Evangeline is the mother of five children, Carlos A. Quintana (Suzanne), Gilbert P. Quintana, Joseph J. Quintana (Christine), Herman A. Quintana (Louisa), Alex A. Quintana (Donna), the grandmother of eleven, Soledad, Jessica, Danielle, Xavier, Andrea, Ana-alycia, Christopher, Kayla, Emily, Gilbert, Bryanna, and great-grandmother to five grandchildren. Evangeline never lost her desire for education and in the summer of 1976 she added a Master of Arts in Education from NMHU to her list of accomplishments. Evangeline retired from teaching to spend more time with family, especially her grandchildren, in the spring of 1994 after teaching 40 years and 4 generations of Taosenos. Outside of work and in retirement, she lived to spend time with family. She was often seen tending her vegetable and flower gardens, the result of which were shared with friends and family and earned her numerous blue ribbons at the Taos County Fair.
Evangeline is preceded in death by her husband, Carlos (Herman) “Shine” Quintana, parents Luis R. and Belen C. Gallegos, son Gilbert P. Quintana, sister Edulia Gallegos, father and mother in-law Cristobal and Katarina Quintana, brothers-in-law Chris (Addie), Alex, Leopoldo (Margaret) and Aniceto Anglada, sisters-in-law, Mary Maes (Amadeo) and Margaret Fernandez (Bonifacio).
She is survived by her sons, Carlos (Suzanne), Joseph (Christine), Herman (Louisa) and Alex (Donna). Brothers, Raymond Gallegos (Gloria) (Espanola), Archie Gallegos (Carmen) (Albuquerque) and sister, Liz Martinez (Espanola). Brothers-in-law Patricio (Lorraine) (Las Cruces), Robert (Ernestine), Reynaldo (Patricia). Sisters-in-law Lillian Anglada (Oklahoma) and Margaret Quintana and many nieces, nephews, extended family and friends who were all very special to her
The family would like to thank everyone for their thoughts, prayers and support during this difficult time. May she rest in eternal peace.
A Rosary was recited on Friday November 24th at 6:00 p.m. at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church in Taos, and Saturday, November 25, a Rosary at 1:00 P.M. with Mass of Christian burial following at 2:00 p.m. Interment to follow at the Dolores Cemetery.