Eileen Pearl Sandoval

Eileen Pearl Sandoval of Albuquerque, NM passed away peacefully at home on July 27, 2026. She was born on December 16, 1928, in Chicago, Illinois, to E. Eugene and Elizabeth P. Moots. Eileen was a graduate of Visitation High School in Chicago, Illinois. She graduated with a DIP in 1952 and a Bachelor of Fine Arts in 1961 from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC).

Eileen married George P. Sandoval on June 27, 1953, who preceded her in death. Eileen was a true matriarch and loving mother and fine artist. Even while raising six children, she found time to finish her BFA and paint religious icons in oils and acrylic on canvas. She excelled at the SAIC; her instructors considered her in the top five of her class where she learned techniques in modern art painting. Many of her professors were taught by German immigrants who had been Bahaus School trained.

She came to New Mexico to learn Spanish and go on to teach art abroad in South America. She attended the University of New Mexico to complete the SAIC's required liberal arts courses and worked at the Zimmerman Library. She was a devout Catholic and attended mass and activities at the St. Thomas Aquinas Newman Club on campus. While at a dance festivity there, she met her future husband, George. The two dated for about one year before being married at St. Francis Xavier Church in Albuquerque.

Together, they collaborated on hand-carved furniture designs for George's business, Spanish Furniture & Doors. They built a Spanish-Pueblo style, adobe home in 1962 in Albuquerque's North Valley furnished with George's furniture, her artwork and many New Mexican retablos, bultos, and indigenous kachinas and artifacts. She lived in her home until her death surrounded by all she cherished.

She is survived by her six children, Chris Sandoval, Cindy Satchel (Scott Satchel), Michele Buckles (James Buckles), Lisa M. Sandoval, Gregory Sandoval (Lisa A. Sandoval)and Suzette Sandoval; 12 grandchildren, Nicole Buckles, Melissa Gutierrez, Dominic Gutierrez, Cameron Buckles, Chantel Liebling (Jordan Liebling), Maria Elena Sandoval (James Robinson), Deja Wakley (Dustin Wakley), Casey Satchel (Haley Satchel), Matthew Segura (Lauren Segura), Elias Sandoval-Clarimon, Sarina Pollat (Nick Levin), and Carissa Satchel; 16 great-grandchildren, Gillian, Jack and Evie Barkhurst; Isaiah and Marcy Buckles; Easton and Sophie Wakley; Deklyn, Nash, and Collette Libeling; Mavrick, Malibu, Solana and Lunara Satchel; Arkyn Gutierrez, and Sage Segura; and her brother, Richard Moots.

She was preceded in death by her parents, E. Eugene and Elizabeth P. Moots; her sisters, Sr. Giotto (Evelyn Moots), Lorrain Moots, Betty DelGrande, and Mary Barrows; her grandchildren, Audriana Sandoval and Jacob Chavez; son-in-law, Michael Pettenuzzo; and daughter-in-law, Angela Robbins.

A rosary service will be held Thursday, August 13, 2026, 5:00 p.m., at FRENCH - University. The Funeral Mass will be held Friday, August 14, 2026, 9:00 a.m., at St. Therese of the infant Jesus Catholic Church, 3424 4th St. NW. The placement of her urn will be at Mount Calvary Cemetery immediately following the Mass, 1900 Edith Blvd. NE 87102.