Mary Helen Saavedra

Beautiful, loving, kind, compassionate, courageous, generous, faithful, devoted, intelligent, funny, elegant and graceful.

November 20, 1942, Mary Helen was born in an adobe home surrounded with love by her parents, Gabriel and Angela. She was the baby of the family and looked up to her brothers Gabe and Kiki who she admired for their strengths and individuality. As she weaved fairy wreaths for her hair, daydreaming among the alfalfa, hollyhocks and wildflowers, she would listen to the sound of the trains passing by the fields. She attended Sacred Heart and St. Mary's High School and was a young graduate at 16. She loved to spend her days at her Grandma Rita's house in downtown Albuquerque, where she made beautiful memories with her cousins and lifelong friends. She attended Business College and worked for the bank and telephone company. She devoted her life to her family and friends and was one of Albuquerque's first feminists. In the early 70's she started a resource library at the YWCA to empower and support women and girls, as she believed that anything was possible if you stay true to yourself. Known for her flawless, porcelain skin, quick wit, and impeccable sense of style; Mary Helen believed in living life to its fullest. She enjoyed yoga, jazzercise, belly-dancing and water aerobics. She loved to ride her bike and walk around Hyder Park with her daughters, neighbors and dogs Lady and Teddy. Mary Helen was the "Mom everyone wanted." She was beautiful and kind and the first to volunteer for room mother, PTA, field trips, driving everyone to dance lessons, cheerleading practice, and any other events her daughters participated in. She organized the best birthday parties and was the Mom who did everyone's make-up, hair and accessories for homecoming, prom, formals and galas. She loved unconditionally and was fiercely protective of her family and friends.

She loved her daughters, Annjenette and Vicki and instilled in them a sense of strength; resilience; and courage to live without regrets and experience life through love, travel, independence and gratitude. She encouraged her girls to live the life they wanted to lead; not the life that others expected. She taught them to believe in themselves and knew she always would believe in them. Mary Helen loved her grandson, David Christian and was so proud of him. They would sit for hours and share their dreams and discuss how one person can make a real difference in this world.

Mary Helen loved and cherished her friends, cousins, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, Godchildren, neighbors, and her Grandma Rita. She was a devoted daughter and loved her Mother and Father with her whole heart. She always looked after the most vulnerable and had a heart of gold. She was passionate about protecting and caring for animals and she loved and nurtured generations of feral cats in her neighborhood. Mary Helen requested that if you wish to honor her memory, please consider making a donation in her name to nmpaca.org or consider adopting/fostering a homeless pet.

We are truly grateful to the dear friends and cherished family members who loved and supported her over the years. We would like to thank the compassionate team of professionals at Presbyterian Northern New Mexico Home Care, Palliative Care and Hospice, as well as Mary Helen's specialists, counselors, physicians, nurse practitioners and caregivers.

Mary Helen's spiritual journey evolved and grew as she was deeply faithful and devoted to the Blessed Mother, Jesus, St. Anthony, St. Jude, and the archangels that watched over her and welcomed her home.

Your light and legacy will continue to shine bright.

We love you and will keep you in our hearts forever.