Mary Soister

Mary Soister of Medanales, NM (formerly of Albuquerque), passed peacefully at home surrounded by her loving family on December 12, 2019.  Words simply fall short in describing the brilliance of the light of selfless Grace that has gone out of the world with the her passing.

Mary was born to Ebidio and Matiana Mendoza on Dec. 15, 1926, in Waynoka, OK, and grew up in Texico, NM. Following high school, Mary moved to Albuquerque with her sister Phyllis, attending secretarial school. She went on to work for both the Social Security Administration and the Army Corp of Engineers in Albuquerque, where she met David Soister, a student at the University of New Mexico. She married David, a WWII Navy veteran, in Clovis, NM on May 26, 1956. They raised a family of five children in Albuquerque, NM.

After tragic illness struck in 1971 taking her husband, Mary raised her children as a single mother.  She selflessly cared for her sister Vicenta, her father and her mother, and her brother Tony at the ends of their lives.  Mary valued devotion to family and faith, and lived to see her children and grandchildren achieve success and happiness. She was happiest when hostessing a house full of family and friends for holiday visits, serving her famous veggie enchiladas, or playing several cut-throat rounds of Canasta with anyone who dared. She also enjoyed daily prayers and attending Mass with her family.

As a parishioner at Queen of Heaven in Albuquerque for several years, Mary had many friends and was active in the Altar Rosary Society. She enjoyed ceramics and bowling, and maintained clarity of mind and awareness into her ninetieth decade, frequently engaging in discussions about politics and current affairs.

Mary lived her final years in the comfort and loving care of her eldest daughter, Patricia Gonzales, her son-in-law Daniel, and their daughters Julie, Rachel and Mary, along with great-grandsons Sean and Brandon.

Mary is survived and mourned by her children Patricia(Daniel) Medanales NM, David (Jacki) Aurora CO, Tina (Susan Wainwright) Albuquerque NM, Paul(Samantha) Salem OR, and Amy Dunlap(Dana) Tijeras NM, and also by grandchildren Hannah Chen(Joshua), Jeremiah Hunke, Joshua Hunke(wife Hope and their three children Noah, Ezra and Ariella), two step-grandchildren and several step-great-granchildren. She also leaves behind her beloved siblings Kathy Lettofsky (Harvey) of Fredrick MD and Jane Monarrez of Sparks NV, as well as many cherished in-laws, nieces, nephews and cousins across the country.

I n lieu of flowers, charitable donations may be made in memory of Mary to the Saint Vincent de Paul Society, to the San Antonio Church in Medanales, NM, or to any preferred charity.

To honor Mary's life of devotion and service, a Holy Rosary is planned for late in the day on December 26 at San Antonio Catholic Church in Medanales, NM (time TBD). A Funeral Mass will be held at the church on December 27th, 10:30 am, with the internment to follow at 1:30 pm, at the Santa Fe National Cemetery.

Remembrances and tributes can be submitted online at : https://www.avistacremationandburial.com/

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