Maria Louise Prokesch, a devoted wife, mother, and pillar of her community, passed away peacefully on November 6, 2023, in Albuquerque, New Mexico. She was 80 years old.

Maria was born in River Vale, New Jersey, on June 21, 1943, to Rudolph Jack Dautel and Domenica Tripodi. She along with her brother Rudolph Jack Dautel Jr were raised in a loving home, surrounded by family and strong Catholic values. She attended Bergen Community College in Paramus, New Jersey, and later worked as a comptroller at Citibank in New York City.

In 1960, Maria began a new chapter in her life. She met and married a newly arrived german immigrant who was serving in the U.S. Army, Guenther Georg Martin Prokesch. The second chapter started in 1979 moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico and started a family. together they had two sons, Michael who passed in infancy and Scott. Maria deeply cherished her family, and her home was always a warm and welcoming place for everyone.

Maria was a dedicated educator who touched the lives of countless students at Annunciation Catholic School, where she worked in the resource room for over 20 years. She was known for her patience, kindness, and unwavering belief in her students' potential.

Beyond her family and career, Maria was an active member of her community. She was a passionate volunteer at the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF), where she walked in fundraising events and assisted in various other ways. Her dedication to the JDRF was deeply personal, as her son Scott was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes at a young age.

Maria's faith played a central role in her life. She was a devout Catholic who found strength and solace in her church community. She was an active member of her parish, participating in various ministries and always willing to lend a helping hand.

Maria was a woman of remarkable strength, compassion, and unwavering faith. She was a loving wife, mother, and friend who touched the lives of everyone she met. Her absence will be deeply felt by all who knew and loved her.

Maria is survived by her son, Scott and her three grandchildren Aiden, Bennett and newborn Caleb.

Services

A rosary and viewing will be held on Wednesday, November 15, 2023 from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM at Sunset Memorial Park Chapel, 924 Menaul Blvd NE, Albuquerque, NM 87107.

The funeral Mass will be celebrated on Thursday, November 16, 2023 at 10:00 AM at Our Lady of the Annunciation Church, 2621 Vermont St NE, Albuquerque, NM 87110.

Burial will follow immediately at Sunset Memorial Park.

A memorial wake will be held after the burial. The place and time are still to be announced.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) in Maria's memory.