Dorothy Ann Turrieta, our "DT", beloved mother, grandmother, sister, and friend, passed away Monday, December 21, 2020.  Dorothy was born January 14, 1935 in Hays, Kansas, the second of five children. Her family lived on Sweetwater Ranch in Victoria, KS until her senior year in high school when they moved to Artesia, NM.  After Dorothy completed high school, her family moved to Albuquerque and she returned to Hays, KS where she graduated in 1956 from St. Anthony School of Nursing with a diploma in Registered Nursing and extensive training from St. Anthony's Hospital.  Dorothy moved to Albuquerque, received an RN License in New Mexico, worked at St. Joseph Hospital, and met her dear "Eduardo," Edward Turrieta.  She and Edward were married in 1959 and were blessed with three sons, Michael, Mark, and Matthew.  Although Edward was in the Navy and the family moved around the country, Dorothy always had work as a nurse. She obtained a Certificate of Rehab Nursing, and in 1983 she graduated from UNM with an MA in Counselor Ed.

While Dorothy worked in New York, Louisiana, Virginia, California, and New Mexico, she never just held a job.  She owned each and every job she ever did, and she taught her children the same high work ethic by making sure they owned and took responsibility for their actions and decisions.  This is one of the many reasons she will be deeply missed.

Dorothy worked diligently to better the status of Long-Term Care, Geriatric Rehab, and the rights of the elderly in general.  During her long and dedicated career, she was an advocate of the elderly as the Director of Rehabilitation at La Vida Llena Retirement Facility, Director of Nursing at Manzano Del Sol Village, Albuquerque Manor, and Sombrillo Nursing and Rehabilitation Center.  She also held education positions at various facilities, and provided Nurse Consultation and Assessment functions to other organizations through her consulting business. She spent over 60 years as an active RN, the majority of it in gerontological rehab nursing. She spent 10 years protecting elderly and incapacitated clients as a guardian, overseeing their medical treatment, finances, and living conditions, arranging for professional services, and making end-of-life decisions if necessary.  She finished her career as the Quality Assurance Director at Retreat Healthcare. Her dedication to her patients, clients, and calling will be deeply missed.

Dorothy was preceded in death by her parents, Marcell and Anna, an infant sister, Marie, an infant brother, Joseph, and her husband, Edward.  Although they divorced, Edward always held a special place in her heart.  She is survived by her devoted sons, Michael (Wendy), Mark, a.k.a. Tony (Judy), and Matthew; her precious granddaughters, Deslynn, Sydney, and Nahia, her beloved brothers Don (Millie) and Roger (Karen), seven nephews and nieces and their families whom she loved so very much, and many friends who were very dear to her.  Dorothy was always interested in what was happening in everyone's lives, and she made sure that the family kept in touch through her.  Without her, we are broken, but she would say we have to remain strong for each other.

Visitation for our DT will be held on Tuesday, January 5, 2021 from 2:00pm to 4:00pm in the Chapel of Direct Funeral and Cremation Services, 2919 4 ^th Street NW, Albuquerque, NM 87107.  Due to the current pandemic, the visitation will be limited to 5 people at one time.  A funeral mass will be held at 10:00 am on Friday, January 8, 2021 at St. John XXIII Catholic Community, 4831 Tramway Ridge Drive, NE, Albuquerque, NM 87111.  A private family interment will follow the mass.

In lieu of flowers or plants, donations may be made in Dorothy's memory to Operation Smile, Roadrunner Food Bank Roadrunner Food Bank
5840 Office Blvd NE. Albuquerque, NM 87109, and The Retreat (Resident Music Fund), The Retreat Music Fund-4075 Jackie RD SE. Rio Rancho, NM  87124.  Please visit never-gone.com to view tributes and/or leave a remembrance.