Maria Angela Theresa Salazar was born in Villanueva, New Mexico on May 5, 1944 to Andres Gallegos and Antonia Garcia. She passed away, surrounded by her family on Sunday, August 3, 2025. Angela was the seventh of eleven children.

Angela was a very caring, strong, smart, and joyful woman. Her love language was acts of service; in the mornings she would cook fried eggs, potatoes with red or green chile and handmade tortillas for whoever was visiting. She loved to quilt blankets and sew dresses for the people she cared about. Tending to her ranch brought her joy, especially looking after her many animals and family. As a protector she would always make sure to bless her loved ones by making the sign of the cross on their forehead using her thumb. She would pray for them and let them know to pray to Jesus for protection.

Above all, Angela loved her family. On July 3, 1964, she married Jose Armando Salazar. The two of them met at school when they were in sixth grade; Armando described Angela as, "the prettiest girl in the valley." She was loyally married to Armando, her "viejo", for 61 years and he was by her side until the day that she died. Together they owned J.S. Construction Company for which she managed accounting and administration.

Angela was so proud of her family. Her walls were covered with photos of her children/grandchildren/great grandchildren, and she would always give a Christmas and birthday present to every single one of them every year to show her love.

She was preceded in death by her parents Antonia Garcia and Andres Gallegos, and her grandsons, Brian Padilla and Wilfred Gallegos.

She is survived by her husband, Jose Armando Salazar, and her sisters Eva Villanueva, Berna Gallegos, and Helen Jaramillo whom Angela considered her best friend; her children, Jacob Salazar (Liza); Yolanda Salazar, Sandra Tafoya (John), Patty Lehman, and her grandchildren, Jacob Salazar (Bridget), Maria Gallegos (Lloyd), Deseree Salazar (Colleen), Jesse Salazar Navarrette (Amanda), James Padilla (Crystal), Joseph Padilla, John Tafoya Jr. (Marie), Gabriella Tafoya (Luke), Rebecca Tafoya (Ricky), Anastasia Tafoya, Canon Lehman (Joselyn), and Brooke Lehman; her great grandchildren, Camryn Salazar, Brandy Chavez, Izabella Salazar, Jake Salazar, Adison Medina, Arianna Aragon, Zachariah Aragon, Evangelyn Gallegos, Alicia Gallegos, Melody Gallegos, Xander Salazar, Raylynn Varela, Jameson Nix, Aaliyah Nix, Gabriel Padilla, Ariella Padilla, Judah Padilla, Willow Padilla, Robyn Tafoya, and August Tafoya. Angela was loved dearly by her sisters, brothers, nieces, nephews, cousins and many friends.

Services will be held in Villanueva, New Mexico at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church on Tuesday, August 19, 2025 beginning with a Rosary at 9:00 am immediately followed by a Mass of Christian with interment to follow at the Villanueva Cemetery.

Arrangements are entrusted to and under the care of Rogers Mortuary, 600 Reynolds Ave., Las Vegas, NM 87701, 505-425-3511 or 1-800-479-3511.

If sending the family a sympathy card via our online service you may mail the card directly to the family by clicking "Send to Family Address".

We invite you to visit our website at www.rogersmortuarynm.com to sign the online register book.