Funeral services for Nicolasa Burciaga, 89, of Portales, will be at 10:00 A.M., Tues., Feb. 20, 2018 in the Wheeler Mortuary Chapel with Pastor Jesus Espinoza officiating. Burial will follow in the Portales Cemetery with Ernie Aguirre, Nathan Burciaga, Caleb Burciaga, Aaron Burciaga, Leroy Valdez and Jackie Lopez serving as pallbearers.
Nicolasa Burciaga was born Dec. 6, 1928 in Balmorhea, TX to the home of Eustacia (DeLao) and Andres Sanchez, and died early Sat. morning, Feb. 17, 2018 at the home of her daughter. On Mar. 19, 1949 in San Antonio del Bravo, Mexico she was married to Pedro Burciaga. They went back and forth between Mexico and the U. S. for several years doing seasonal farm work until 1977 when they moved to Portales. In 1972, Mrs. Burciaga converted from the Catholic Church to the Spanish Baptist Church. She spent a lot of time reading her Bible and studying God’s word. In addition, she was an accomplished seamstress, and not only did sewing for her own family, but also for others.
She is survived by two sons and a daughter-in-law, Pedro Burciaga, Jr. and Saul and Yolanda Burciaga of Portales; two daughters and sons-in-law, Olaya and Jose Espinoza and Elida and Jorge Lopez of Portales; two sons-in-law, Jesus Valdez of Portales and Raul Rodriguez of Muleshoe, TX; 15 grandchildren, 20 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by husband Pedro Burciaga on Feb. 17, 1998, her parents, two daughters, Dulces Valdez in Oct. 2017 and Estella Rodriguez in Dec. of 2005; and a grandson, Dubel Valdez in Sept. of 2011, a great granddaughter Jocelyn Ramirez in Aug. of 2013, and by her husband, Pedro, who died Feb. 17, 1998 after nearly 49 years of marriage.
