Ester Castillo Sarabia

Ester Castillo Sarabia, 89, of Radio Boulevard, Carlsbad, New Mexico, passed away January 20, 2011 at her daughter's home. Visitation will be today, Sunday, January 23, 2011 from 3:00 PM to 5:00 PM at Denton-Wood Funeral Home, 1001 North Canal Street and from 6:00 PM to Vigil at San Jose Cathoilc Church, 1002 De Baca. A Vigil is scheduled for Sunday, January 23, 2011, 7:00 PM at San Jose Catholic Church. Mass of Christian Burial is scheduled for Monday, January 24, 2011, 10:00 AM, at San Jose Catholic Church with Father Valentine Jankowski OFM, Conv. officiating. Interment will follow in Santa Catarina Cemetery, Carlsbad, New Mexico. Denton-Wood Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements. Ester Castillo Sarabia was born September 9, 1921 in Carlsbad, NM to Eulio and Rita (Martinez) Carrasco. She attended Carlsbad schools and graduated from Carlsbad High School. Ester furthered her education by attending three years of college and some night schools. While working at the hospital, she met and then married Juan Sarabia Jr. They started a family and had eight children. She worked for the Dunagan family and also Carlsbad schools in the cafeteria. Ester also cooked at the hospital and Country Club. For a time she worked for National Potash as an underground miner. After they shut down she was employed as an Elderly Care Aide and she also owned rental property, which she managed. Ester enjoyed sewing, reading, ceramics and traveling. She raised animals- calves, goats, sheep and chickens. Ester was a member of The Hospital Auxiliary, Senior Citizen Center and San Jose Catholic Church. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Juan Sarabia, Jr., three sons: Tommy, Frankie, and Antonio; two brothers and two sisters. Survivors are five children: Margarita Purcell of Carlsbad, NM, Joe Sarabia of Carlsbad, NM, Jimmy Sarabia of Petaca, NM, Virginia Carrasco of Carlsbad, NM, Ramon Sarabia of Carlsbad, NM; 22 grandchildren and numerous great-grandchildren; three sisters: Elvira, Lydia, Cindia; two brothers: Baldo and Ernesto. Pallbearers will be her grandson's. Condolences may be expressed at dentonwood.com.