Loretta Lithgow

Frances Loretta Rose (Armijo) Lithgow was born in Santa Fe, New Mexico on October 7, 1941, to the proud parents of Manual A. and Frances Apodaca Armijo just two months before the start of World War 2 and four years before meeting her father for the first time after he returned from the war. She passed away very close to celebrating the 56th anniversary of her 29th birthday, at her home surrounded by her children, grandchildren and grand dogs Rusty and Coco who were with her at her bedside.

Loretta attended schools in Santa Fe including St. Anne, BF Young (the very first class) and Santa Fe High School, where she was a cheerleader and Homecoming Queen during her senior year. In her last year of high school, she began working with a new state of New Mexico agency – the State Investment Council, where she held many positions during her 28+ year career including serving mostly as a Financial Analyst and retiring as the Deputy Chief State Investment Officer. Loretta also had some post-retirement jobs as a blackjack dealer at the Cities of Gold Casino and as a tax preparer. However, her most fruitful and rewarding “job” was being a grandma AKA “Nina” to Rachel and Joe. She had a whimsical yet subtle sense of humor and upbeat personality, and this trait is passed on.

Loretta wed Clarence V. “Porky” Lithgow on November 4, 1960, just twenty years to the day after her parents were first married. The union lasted for 61 years until Porky passed away. Loretta and Porky raised their family in Santa Fe starting with Loreen, Vince, Claudine and finally Dawn. During that time, she attended many field trips and other kid-related and school events. Loretta even took on the role of being both a Girl Scout Troup Leader and Cub Scout Den Mother for her older kids during the same period of time. Those two roles were not repeated.

Loretta had several hobbies which include artwork, mostly painting landscapes with oil and some acrylics and stained-glass work. She and her sister Peggy enjoyed visiting the local gaming venues always remembering to rub the tummy of the Budda before they set out on their venture. Loretta was also an avid bowler, spending many nights in the bowling alleys with her mother, Auntie Jo, cousins Priscilla and Joanna and dear friend Inez Olivas. They were not to be messed with at the bowling alley, and they took no prisoners even though most of them attended Mass regularly.

Loretta was preceded in death by her paternal grandparents Lorenzo and Placida Armijo, maternal grandparents Bernardo and Lorencita Apodaca, parents, husband, daughters Claudine and Dawn, sisters Jennie Armijo, Peggy Ruiz and Patty Armijo. Also included are her in-laws Clarence V. and Josefita Chavez Lithgow, sister and brother-in-law Bonnie and Victor Burch, brother-in-law Donald Lithgow, sisters-in-law Bernadette Lithgow and Barbara Chavez; niece Nycole Forte and nephews Daryl Lithgow, Craig Ripley and Jared Lithgow.

Loretta is survived by her brother Alfred “Fred” Armijo, children Frances Loreen Lithgow, C. Vince Lithgow III (Karen) and grandchildren Loretta Rachel Lithgow (fiancée Cullen Maher) and Joseph Vincent Lithgow; bonus grandchildren Nick Torres and Adriana Torres; sisters-in-law and Godsends Gloria Lithgow and Hilda Lithgow Ripley, and brother-in-law Mike Chavez; cousin/sister Priscilla Gallegos; very special cousins Jackie Morales and Max Myers, and dear friends Julia Gomez and Inez Olivas along with many other relatives and friends. Loretta is also survived by three great grandchildren; Colter Maher, Ezio Bravata and Nico Torres.

Much appreciation is given to the nurses, caregivers and staff of Enchanted Sky Hospice for their very caring and professional treatment during and after Loretta’s passing.

Services are scheduled for September 22, 2026, at 12 noon at Rivera Family Funeral Home (Kiva Chapel) and burial at the Santa Fe National Cemetery at 2 pm.