Cereceres, Rudolfo

Rudolfo Cereceres

Services: Have been held.

Rudolfo Cereceres, 78, of Portales, died Wednesday, April 21, 2004, at his home.

He was born on Dec. 5, 1925, in Chihuahua, Mexico, to Elena and Roberto Cereceres.

He grew up in Chihuahua, where he attended school. He served in the Mexico military. In 1963, he moved to the U.S. and lived in Rocky Ford, Colo. He married Estella Gonzales on Nov. 2, 1964, in Rocky Ford and continued to live there until 1972, when they moved to Lariat, Texas. He spent most of his life working in agriculture before retiring in 1983. They moved to Portales in 1987. Family members said he enjoyed personal gardening.

He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Manuel and Roberto Cereceres Jr.; and a sister, Lorenza Cereceres.

Survivors include his wife; three sons, Raymond Serna (and wife, Sharon) of Clovis and Joe Pantoya and Sandro J. Serna, both of Portales; six daughters, Rose Trujillo (Mike) of Pueblo, Colo., Mary Ring of Seattle, Wash., Melissa Harper (Kurt) of Canton, Ohio, and Estelle Rayna, Ellen Cordova and Sheila Puente (Jose Jr.), both of Portales; 14 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; four brothers, Alfred Cereceres (Antonia) of El Paso, Texas, Ramon Cereceres (Olivia), Antonio Cereceres and Raul Cereceres (Rosa), all of Chihuahua; two sisters, Maria Elena Aldave (Waldo) and Carmen Cereceres, all of Chihuahua, Mexico; and numerous nieces and nephews.

The Rev. Tobin Hitt will officiate the services.

Burial will be at Portales Cemetery.

A rosary is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Friday at Wheeler Mortuary Chapel in Portales.

Pallbearers are Raymond and Sandro J. Serna, Mike Trujillo, Jose Puente Jr., Herman Cordova and Robert Powers.

Honorary pallbearers are the grandchildren.

Arrangements are by Wheeler Mortuary of Portales.