We celebrate the vibrant life of Mary Rita Crespin Jaramillo, who passed away at age 89 on September 2, 2026. Mary Rita was born in Trujillo, New Mexico, on April 14, 1937, to Amada and Pedro Crespin. She was a fierce spirit whose passion shone through in her artwork and in the deep love she showed her family every day. She kept her Hispano heritage alive through her stories, traditions, faith, and art, ensuring that her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren understood where they came from. She was larger than life—her humor and charisma naturally filled every room.

Mary Rita was remarkably modest about her talent as an artist, crediting the Holy Spirit for guiding her hand and always saying she “just held the brush.” Her paintings reflected the culture of Northern New Mexico that shaped her, depicting adobe villages, pueblos, the people and traditions of the region, and scenes of rural life. Her father, Pedro, played an important role in the development of her art, and in tribute to him, she painted under her maiden name, Crespin.

She also enjoyed weaving, a hobby influenced by her mother, Amada, using wool from sheep she raised herself. Her adored sheep were part of a menagerie of animals Mary Rita loved throughout her life—cats, chickens, peacocks, goats, burros, and horses—oh my! She often joked that she herself was the “black sheep”—different from all the rest.

She loved to share stories about growing up and how, as a young girl, she had wanted to enter the convent. While she did not ultimately take that path, she remained a woman of deep faith—a devout Catholic who lived out her devotion throughout her life. She began her formation with the Secular Franciscan Order in 1994 and was a devoted member of the Fraternity of St. Anthony.

She was preceded in death by her beloved parents, Amada and Pedro Crespin; all of her siblings: Aniceto, Florentina, Antonio, Emerlinda, Jose, Herman, Miguel, Julio, and Canuto; and her most precious son, Michael Jaramillo.

She is survived by her loving husband of 70 years, Gonzalo Leon Jaramillo; her devoted daughter, Gertrude “Trudy” Padilla (Steve); her son, Leon II “Lenny” Jaramillo; five grandchildren: Annamarie Baca (Erik), Melanie Chavez (Gabe), Victoria Wolfel (Jason), Leon Jaramillo III (Victoria), and Marc Padilla; and eleven great-grandchildren: Caleb Baca, Jack Baca, Isaiah Wolfel, Joshua Padilla, Elisia Baca, Juliana Wolfel, Isabella Jaramillo, Evan Wolfel, Marisol Chavez, Maya Chavez, and Magdalena Chavez.

Her smile, her humor, her love, and her legacy will live on in her family. She will be remembered, always.

Services:

A Rosary will be recited at 8:00 AM on Tuesday, September 22, 2026, at Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Catholic Church (9502 4th St NW, Albuquerque, NM 87114). Funeral Mass will be celebrated at 9:00 AM. Interment will take place immediately following Mass at San Carlos Cemetery. A reception will follow the burial in the Nativity Church Reception Hall.