On Saturday, January 11, 2025, Ernestine Alicia Marcelli, age 91, passed away quietly and gently to her Heavenly home.  Ernestine was preceded in death by her mother Paublita;  husband Frank Marcelli Sr.; daughters, Julie and Teresa Marcelli; and brothers Raymond and Tony Felix. She leaves behind her children Rosie Nelson, Mariana Marcelli, Tina Marcelli, Frank Marcelli and Kathy, John Marcelli and Lisa, and Stephanie Giannini and Armand Jr.  She is also survived by 17 grandchildren, a great-grandson, and numerous nieces, nephews, and friends and neighbors.  In addition, Ernestine cared for many children in her home daycare whom she considered honorary grandchildren.

Ernestine was born May 3, 1933 in El Centro, California, but spent a large part of her childhood in Socorro, New Mexico.  In a tragic instance, Ernestine and her two brothers lost their mother. Ernestine, at twelve years old, was sent to California to live with gracious relatives who welcomed her and cared for her.  She remained in California for a few years going to school and working.  Among other jobs, she worked as a produce picker and as a packer in a cookie factory. As a young, faithful woman she prayed to God and asked Him to give her an honorable man to be her husband so that she could be a loving wife and mother. Shortly after that prayer Ernestine moved to Albuquerque and began working in the Tropical Market grocery store which was owned by one of the California cousins and her husband.  It was there that God, honoring her faithfulness, brought the handsome Frank Marcelli Sr. into the store and straight into Ernestine's heart.  This was one of her favorite stories to tell. It defined her and she was always thankful for the gracious gift. The two were married in November of 1953 at St. Therese Catholic Church. Frank's large Italian family welcomed Ernestine. Sadly, Frank's mother had passed away just about a year before they met, but Ernestine did gain a father, brothers, sisters and many nieces and nephews.

Over the next years Frank and Ernestine were blessed with eight children. The family was big, bustling and very close. In addition to raising and teaching her own children and those in her daycare, Ernestine took in Frank's uncle Skipper Nizzi when he became ill, and provided loving care for several years until his death.  Life was busy and kids grew up and went out into the world to make their own matches and multiplied the love with grandchildren, a great-grandchild, and many in-laws.

Ernestine was a romantic at heart, a lover of love stories, as a granddaughter noted, the real ones and those of the Hallmark and Lifetime variety. She did enjoy her movies. Every worthy story has to have some bits of sorrow and tragedy, if only to magnify the good parts. Ernestine knew sorrow and tragedy.  Losing her mother, infant daughter and adult daughter, and then her husband were her life's heartbreaks, but her life was rounded out by deep love, much joy and many blessings. Ernestine's faith never wavered and in her last years she often repeated that she was ready to go and be with her Lord and her loved ones.  She had the blessed assurance that Heaven was her eternal home and that she would hold those dear ones again. Ernestine's presence will be greatly missed by those left behind, but we have peace knowing that she is home. And since, as Saint Pope John Paul II said, we are "The Easter People," we have the blessed assurance as well.

Rosary will be recited Friday, January 24, 2025 at 7:00 p.m. at St Jude Thaddeus Church, 5712 Paradise Blvd. NW. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Saturday, January 25, 2025 at 9:00 a.m. Burial will follow at 11:00 a.m. at Mount Calvary Cemetery, 1900 Edith Blvd. NE.