Porfirio Balencia

A memorial rosary and mass is scheduled for 1:00 p.m., Saturday, March 21 at Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church for Porfirio"Reese" Balencia of Artesia, New Mexico.

Mr. Balencia, 88, died Monday, March 16, 2015 at Mesilla Valley Hospice in Las Cruces, New Mexico.

Cremation has taken place under the direction of Terpening & Son Mortuary.

Fr. Martin Cornejo O.F.M. will officiate at the services with burial of the cremated remains at Woodbine Cemetery at a later date. Honorary pallbearers will be his grandchildren.

Porfirio was born February 26, 1927 in Dayton, New Mexico; the son of Frederico Balencia and Agustina (Ruiz) Balencia. He was a life long Artesia area resident.

In August of 1945 he was married to Olivia Gill in Artesia. She preceded him in death July 14, 1989. He was also preceded in death by his parents, two brothers, four sisters, and three grandchildren.

Reese owned and operated his own carpet laying business in Artesia for many years and was a member of Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church. He was a Crucillista, an avid hunter and loved to sing to his grandchildren.

Survivors include his daughters Mary Lee Lopez and husband Joseph of Carlsbad, N.M., Tina Trevino and husband Henry of Lovington, N.M., Ola Gabauer of Santa Fe, N.M., Tonie Franco of San Antonio, Texas, and Rita Hines of Artesia; sons Johnny Balencia and wife Eloisa of Carlsbad, and Mike Balencia and wife Terry of Artesia; sisters Maria Hernandez of Artesia, and Eusebia Meraz of Las Cruces; 24 grandchildren; 52 great-grandchildren; and 20 great-great-grandchildren.

Memorial contributions may be made to Mesilla Valley Hospice, 299 E. Montana Ave., Las Cruces, NM 88005 .

Service

Memorial Rosary

Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church
1111 N. Roselawn Ave
Artesia, NM  88210
Saturday, March 21, 2015
1:00 p.m.

Memorial Mass

Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church
1111 N. Roselawn Ave.
Artesia, NM  88210
Saturday, March 21, 2015
1:30 p.m.

Cemetery

Woodbine Cemetery
200 E. Hermosa Drive
Artesia, NM  88210

Memorial Contributions

299 E. Montana Avenue
Las Cruces, NM  88005