A funeral mass is scheduled for 1 p.m. Friday, Aug. 26, at St. John’s Catholic Church in Roswell for Jose “Simon” H. Mendoza.
Mendoza, 83, passed away Tuesday, Aug. 23, 2016, at his home, surrounded by his family.
Visitation will be held until 7 p.m. today and from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Thursday at Ballard Funeral Home in Roswell. A rosary will be recited at 7 p.m. Thursday at St. John’s.
Interment will follow the funeral mass at South Park Cemetery, with a reception immediately after in the Father John Montoya Building at the church. Pallbearers will be his grandsons Andrew Quintero, Fabian Quintero, Joe W. Mendoza, Stephen Mendoza, Julian Mendoza, Marcos Weimer, Eric Weimer, Jason Osburn, Jarred Donovan, Robert Perez, Humberto Perez Jr. and Dominic Mendoza. Honorary pallbearers are his grandsons Martin Quintero, Greg Hoff, Matthew Mendoza, Rueben Mendoza and Israel Mendoza.
Jose was born Aug. 20, 1933, in Presidio, Texas, to Jorge and Luz (Hinojos) Mendoza. He was the oldest of three children.
He moved from Presidio to Pecos, Texas, with his parents and later moved to Artesia, where, as a youth, he lived, worked, and learned to drive work trucks on a ranch and was a very hard worker. He also found time to play baseball for an Artesia team.
Jose was known as “El Trompo” de los bailes, and in 1951 while at a Christmas dance, he met a girl that he danced the night away with. Her name was Maria Del Refugio “Cuca” Ponce. They fell in love, and three short months later, Maria and Jose were married on March 19, 1952. They had 10 children, and their marriage lasted 64 beautiful years. The Lord had truly blessed Jose and Maria.
Jose grew up showing great respect for his parents and others. He was known as a very responsible man and was very well respected by his family, friends, coworkers and community. One day, a man came up to one of his sons and told him of a story where many years ago, while working with Jose, a stack of boxes fell on this man’s chest. The boxes were very heavy, and he could not breathe and felt he was not going to make it. Jose took out his knife, began cutting the plastic that held the boxes together, then one by one took the boxes off his coworker’s chest where he could breathe, then called for help. This man said he will always remember the day Jose saved his life.
Jose worked many years for Universal Appliance Company in Artesia, then transferred to Roswell, where he worked until the company closed. He then worked for Southwest Distributing for 17 years, later working for the RISD until retirement. He was also a self-taught carpenter, mechanic and appliance repairman. He also loved hunting, fishing and music, which he passed down to his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Jose always had a great sense of humor, and his favorite color was maroon.
Jose was a devout Catholic who dedicated his life to God. He was a member of Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church, the Third Order of St. Francis, and The Holy Name Society in Artesia. Upon moving to Roswell with his family, he became a member of St. John’s Catholic Church, where his dedication to God continued. While attending St. John’s, Jose and Gregorio Dominguez began the first Spanish choir, where he sang and played the guitar for many years. The Spanish choir still continues to this day. For Jose, his faith and service to God always came first. He never missed a day of mass unless he was very ill and to his last days was telling everyone he needed to go to mass. Jose was a testament of God’s work and was a good man to his family and all who knew him.
Survivors include brother Manuel Mendoza and wife Olivia; sister Magdalena “Nena” Calderon; his wife, Maria Del Refugio “Cuca” Mendoza; sons Joe P. Mendoza and wife Irene, Adam Mendoza and wife Andra, David Mendoza and wife Charlotte, and Michael Mendoza; daughters Evangelina “Vangie” Quintero and husband Richard, Gloria Hoff and husband Bill, Alicia Segovia, Amalia “Amy” Donovan, Rachael Pratt and husband Jayson, and Melinda Mendoza; grandchildren Jennifer Aviles and husband Mike, Martin Quintero, Andrew Quintero and wife Christina, Veronica Lucero and husband Richard, Becky Holstun and husband Mike, Fabian Quintero and wife Emma, Greg Hoff and wife Robin, Patricia Carruth and husband Micah, Stephanie Hoff-Smith, Joe W. Mendoza and wife Marizol, Stephen Mendoza and wife Luchia, Marlena Mendoza, Julian Mendoza and wife Megan, Matthew Mendoza, Christa Koglin and husband Charles, Marcos Weimer and wife Latonya, Sara Linares and husband Ernie, Eric Weimer and wife Christa, Jason Osburn, Megan Donovan, Jarred Donovan and wife Jade, Rueben Mendoza, Maria Mendoza, Danielle Mendoza, Dominic Mendoza, Alessandra Mendoza, Israel Mendoza, Paul Mendoza, Ashley Pratt, Robert Perez and wife Crystal, Melissa Martinez and husband David, Humberto Perez Jr., Nizhoni Mendoza, and Olivia Mendoza; 66 great-grandchildren; and six great-great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Jorge and Luz (Hinojos) Mendoza; brother-in-law Manuel Calderon; niece Elpidia “Pilley” Calderon; nephew Wilfredo Mendoza; and great-grandson Demarcus Julian Mendoza.
The Mendoza Family would like to thank all of their family and friends for their prayers, love and support, phone calls, food and visits during this difficult time, especially Wayne and Maggie Darrow, Manuel and Olivia Mendoza, the Calderon Family, Ramona Velasquez, Lina Padilla, Grace Najar, The Joy Center, Encompass, Katrina and staff from Gentiva, Dr. Karimian, Kymera Cancer Center and Blacita Herrera, Julian Mendoza and Joe P. Mendoza for the church music.
Jose was truly a blessing and a miracle to all who knew him. He will be greatly missed.
Arrangements are under the direction of Ballard Funeral Home and Crematory. Condolences may be expressed online at www.ballardfuneralhome.com.
God’s Garden
God looked around his Garden
And He found an empty place
He looked down upon this earth
And saw your tired face
He put his arms around you
And lifted you to rest
Gods garden must be beautiful
He always takes the best
He knew that you were suffering
He knew you were in pain
He knew that you would never
Get well on earth again
He saw the road was getting rough
And the hills were hard to climb
So He closed your weary eyelids
And whispered, “Peace be thine”
It broke our hearts to lose you
But you didn’t go alone
For part of us went with you
The day God called you home.
-In Memory of Jose H. (Simon) Mendoza
