Porfirio Santana Hernandez

Porfirio Santana Hernandez, 80, of West Colfax Street, Carlsbad, New Mexico, passed away October 15, 2010 at his home. Visitation will be Monday, October 18, 2010, 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM, Denton-Wood Funeral Home Chapel. A Vigil is scheduled for Monday, October 18, 2010, 7:00 PM at San Jose Catholic Church, 1002 DeBaca, Carlsbad, NM. Mass of Christian Burial is scheduled for Tuesday, October 19, 2010, 11:00 AM, at San Jose Catholic Church with Father Valentine Jankowski, OFM, Conv. officiating. Interment will follow in Sunset Memorial Gardens Park, Carlsbad, New Mexico. Carlsbad Veterans Honor Guard will provide military honors. Denton-Wood Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements. Porifirio Santana Hernandez was born September 19, 1930 at Fort Davis, Texas, to Porfirio and Sara (Santana) Hernandez. He married Trinidad (Ortiz) Hernandez on October 8, 1951 in Carlsbad. Porfirio served in the U.S. Army during the Korean Conflict. His hobbies included woodworking, spoiling grandchildren, making skillet bread, caring for his animals and spending time outdoors. Porfirio was a loving husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, father-in-law and friend. He loved to laugh and joke and will be remembered as "telling it like it is!" Porfirio was preceded in death by his parents, Porfirio and Sara Hernandez, one brother, Enrique Hernandez, four sisters, Elodia Lopez, Dora Garcia, Sara Hernandez and Olivia Hernandez. Porfirio is survived by his wife of 59 years, Trinidad (Ortiz) Hernandez, children: Virginia (Jeannie) Valenzuela and husband, Rudy, Ricardo Hernandez and wife, Grace, David Hernandez and wife, Carmen, Margarita (Maggie) Buendia and husband, Manuel, Teresa Hernandez, Christina H. Acosta and husband, Fernando, Alicia Quintela and husband, Jimmy, Elizabeth Franco and husband, Cesar, and Valerie Waddle who was brought up and raised by her grandparents; 16 Grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren, two sisters Elvira H Talavera, Gilroy, California and Evarista H. Elizondo of Carlsbad, New Mexico, one brother Felipe Hernandez of Miramonte, California. Pallbearers will be Chris Hernandez, Ramon Valenzuela, Ricardo Hernandez, Daniel Acosta, Brian Biscaino and Jimmy Quintela. Honorary Pallbearers will be Porfirio Hernandez III, Rudy Valenzuela, Robert Valenzuela, Angela Buendia, Valerie Waddle, Stephanie Acosta, Sarah Hernandez, Genevieve Quintela, Alexandria Franco and Gabryella Franco. Condolences may be expressed at dentonwood.com.