Ninfa Lopez

    Ninfa (Jimenez) Lopez, 90, a longtime resident of Las Cruces, N.M., passed away on Friday, June 12, 2009, in Albuquerque, N.M. Services will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, June 20, at the French-Wyoming Chapel, with Kathleen Jimenez-Chamberlain officiating. Interment will follow at Sunset Memorial Park, 924 Menaul Blvd. NE in Albuquerque.
   She was born on March 28, 1919 in Palomas, N.M.
   She married Tony Lopez of Holbrook on June 10, 1944.
   After World War II, she and Tony moved to Las Cruces to start a new life together. Ninfa worked as a bilingual teacher with the Las Cruces Public Schools and also with an experimental bilingual program for children at New Mexico State University.
   She enjoyed a good game of Canasta with her friends, and loved gardening around her house.
   She will be remembered for her strong spirit and wonderful cooking.
   Ninfa was very much loved and will be sorely missed by all.
   Survivors include her daughter, Beverly Lopez and husband, Joseph Buday; granddaughters, Areth and Callan Buday; her siblings, Ernest Jimenez and his wife, Theva of La Junta, Colo., Josephine Stassinos of Albuquerque, Eli Jimenez of Oregon City, Ore., Elizabeth Romero of Santa Fe, N.M., and Charles Jimenez and his wife, Linda of Albuquerque; and numerous other relatives and friends.
   She was preceded in death by her husband, Juan Antonio (J.A. Tony) Lopez; and siblings, Ruth Jimenez, William Jimenez, David Jimenez and Tony Jimenez.
   Should friends desire, memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer’s Foundation, 9500 Montgomery NE, Suite 209, Albuquerque, N.M. 87111.
   French Mortuary of Albuquerque is in charge of the arrangements.