Dora Pauline ManzanaresLongtime resident, Dora Pauline Manzanares, 86, has gone to be with her late husband, Joe Manzanares, on Sept. 27, 2013. She passed away peacefully at her home with her family around her.
Dora was the eldest daughter of Juan and Amelia (Duran) Villarreal and was born on Sept. 7, 1927. She spent her younger years helping raise her younger siblings. She spent her teenage years in Monte Vista harvesting the potato fields. While harvesting, she meet her late husband, fell in love and married. While in the Valley, they worked together in the fields and started their family. They moved to Pagosa Springs in 1956 and continued to grow their family. Dora and Joe homesteaded on land on South 6th Street along the river where they built their home and lived their life together for 59 years.
Dora enjoyed her life to the fullest, leaving a community full of fond memories of her. Dora was a big supporter of community politics and town meetings. You could always find her speaking at a town meeting or see her holding a sign on the street in support of the latest political issue. She was an active member of the American Legion. She also was a member of the Lady Guadalupe and the Lady Auxiliary and a Gold Star Mother. Anytime you stopped by Dora’s house, you could find a meal waiting, an ear to talk to, and a word of advice. She enjoyed listening to music, dancing, picking pinon and making chokecherry syrup and jam. She took great pride in decorating her home and loved to have people come over. Driving by her house, you could see her sitting on her front porch with family and friends.
Dora was preceded in death by her husband (Joe), son (Adoro Manzanares), daughter (Petra Manzanares), her parents (Juan and Amelia Villarreal), brothers (Louis Duran, Toni Villarreal, Fermin Villarreal, Joeisa Villarreal and Francisco Villarreal) and sister (Ursulita Talamante).
She is survived by sons Vicente (late Sis) Manzanares, Gerald (Jane) Manzanares, Bill (Lori) Manzanares, and Fred (Virginia) Manzanares; daughters Jeanette (Randy) Dean and Diana (Tom) Bruder; brothers Gilbert Villarreal and Joe (Minnie) Villarreal; sisters Florinda Riss, Della Svejcara, Alice Francis and Madeline Martinez. Plus many, many, many grandkids, nieces, nephews and other relatives.
Cremation has occurred and funeral services took place at the Center Point Church on Wednesday Oct. 2.
