Surrounded by her loving children in the home she loved, Catherine (Kate) Garduno passed away peacefully on Thursday, August 14, 2026. Born on December 6, 1929 in Colorado, she was a lifelong resident of Penasco, NM. She lived a remarkable life and leaves an enduring testament of resilience, faith, service, and love of family. Born the youngest of twelve children to Jose Vicente Cordova, a sheep herder, and Aurelia Gonzales Cordova, a cook, she overcame poverty with determination and grace. When her parents passed away, she was lovingly raised as a daughter to her sister, Andreitta Madrid Martinez, who instilled in her the value of education and a strong Catholic faith. Kate became the first in her family to graduate from college, earning a degree in Education with Summa Cum Laude honors from the College of St. Joseph in Albuquerque.

Her love for her Catholic faith led her to spend a year in Michigan as a young teacher with The Dominican Sisters. She carried that inspiration home and shared it with generations of students through 35 years as an elementary school teacher at St Anthony’s Catholic school and Penasco Elementary School. Kate married the love of her life, Gilbert Garduno, on July 6, 1957, and together they brought up six children. After the passing of her dear Gilbert, a young 50-year-old Kate raised her children with strength and devotion, guiding each toward education, service, and purpose. A devout Catholic, she continued to serve her community through her church, earning the St. Francis Award for volunteer of the year from the Archbishop of Santa Fe. She served her beautiful Penasco community in countless ways including being the secretary/treasurer for the Penasco Water Association for 20 years.

Kate had many passions in life, but none greater than her family. She was always happiest when she was surrounded by her children, grandchildren, sisters, nieces, nephews, and cousins. She LIVED her Catholic faith and serving her community through religious education, being a lector and communion minister, ironing church linen, and always opening her home to her priests in Penasco with a homecooked meal. She had a special place in her heart for the many friends she considered her besties including Mackie Quintana, Patty Sahd, Joyce Kilgore, Mariquita Romero, Virginia and Roger Dominguez, Jeanette Owen, Reggie Pacheco, Rosita Dominguez, Carmen Fresquez, and Lillian Duran. Kate also loved to travel and visited Washington DC in her early 20s, then later in life traveled to Spain for a summer, to the Holy Land twice, to Italy and the Vatican, to Mexico, and throughout the United States.

Kate was preceded in death by her husband, Gilbert, her mother Aurelia Gonzales Cordova, her father Vicente Cordova, her second mother Andreitta Madrid Martinez (Max), her in-laws Vicente and Piedad Garduno, and many brothers, sisters, in-laws, nieces, nephews, cousins, and dear friends. She is survived by her loving children: Gilbert Jr (Kim), Imelda (Nunie), Dolores, George (Karla), Mario (Diana), Anita (Andy), her grandchildren she adored: Brandy, Sarah, Breanna, Kathleen (Josh), Kaleigh (Michaela), Alexandra, Paige, Emily, and her great grandson, Jordan, her sisters Cleo Vigil (Enoch) and Evangeline Medina (Bob), and many nieces and nephews. Kate’s family is forever grateful for the loving care she had over the years shared by her children and care givers (Patsy, Evelyn, Mae, Glenda, Valerie) and especially during the last several months by Red Willow Hospice, Glenda Sandoval, Valerie Rodriguez, and Jim Martinez.

We can celebrate Kate’s life well lived and be reminded that quiet courage, deep faith, kindness, and steadfast love can shape families, communities, and generations.

Services for Kate include: Viewing/Rosary at Rivera Funeral home in Taos, NM on Sunday evening, August 23, 6 pm. Viewing/Rosary/Eulogy at San Antonio De Padua Catholic Church in Penasco, NM, on Monday, August 24, 5 pm. Funeral mass at San Antonio De Padua Catholic Church in Penasco, NM, on Tuesday, August 25, at 9am with internment at Santa Fe National Cemetery at 2:45 pm.

Following the funeral Mass, we invite family and friends to join us for a luncheon as we gather together, share memories, and continue to celebrate the life of our dear Kate. The family gives heartfelt thanks to the Sosteno and Robert Lopez family for providing the meal and helping make this special gathering possible.