Regina "Bunny" O'Brien died peacefully in her home at the age of 84, on Tuesday, May 5, 2026, after an extended fight with dementia.

Regina Maria Sanchez was born in the old St Joseph Hospital on July 16, 1941. She was taken home and placed in a bassinet on the floor and her brother Dickie came in and saw her and said 'what a pretty Bunny'. He would call her 'my Bunny' and the name stuck. Always, Bunny to everyone.

Bunny was preceded in death by her parents, Chano and Fefa Sanchez, her brother Dick 'Dickie Pops' Sanchez, and husband Bill. She is survived by her son Kevin (Effie) O'Brien, daughter Sydney (Sam) Nieto, and son David (Laura) O'Brien; grandchildren Ashley Baca (Larry), Greg, Matt (Allie), Alyssa 'sweetheart' (Anthony, 'the loud one') and Jeremy 'he's mine, right?' (Angelina, 'the little girl'). Bunny has great-grandchildren Trista (Isaiah Sr.), Elijah, Cisco, Casey, Hannah, and Lauren, plus her new great-great grandson Isaiah Jr, also Javi 'I Love that boy' Martinez, part of her family for 15+ years.

Bunny was a lifelong resident of Albuquerque and absolutely Loved this city. She grew up on South 3rd Street and attended Sacred Heart Catholic School and was a member of the Albuquerque High Class of 1959.

In 1958, she was asked by a friend if she would please go on a blind date, because her mom would only let her go if it was a double date. Imagine the surprise when a blonde, white guy got out of the car. Chano, Fefa and Dickie were as shocked as Bunny. Bunny said with the setting sun behind him it looked like his head was glowing. 'What a sight!'.

It must not have shocked Bunny that much because on March 10, 1959, with two friends as Witnesses, they went to the courthouse in Bernalillo to get married but had to call Fefa to come, because she had to sign, to allow 17-year-old Bunny to be married. In April of 1959 they were married again in St Therese Church with Dickie and Becky Naranjo standing with them. Bunny said she knew things would be crazy because 'Bill burned a hole in my wedding dress with a cigarette on the way home from the church'.

Bunny and Bill were a team for 37+ years until Bill passed away in 1996 at the age of 60. Bunny was the perfect partner for Bill with his health issues. She was there by his side for every single adventure in his work life. When you hired Bill, they came as a set, and she was right there with him for every single activity. This included his many years with Bill self-employed in the cabinet shop and camper/RV partnership with Tony Nanneman, and many years at Albuquerque Door, Namretaw, and other cabinet making jobs. Also were the many years when Bill (and Bunny) were the custodian at St. Therese School. She was there for every job quote, project, and side job too. She was such a great example to her family on how to keep a marriage together.

Bunny's initial experience caring for others started with her dad, who passed away from cancer when she was 39. Later, she cared for Bill for several years-- we all know this is where she started growing her angel wings, because as a patient he could be classified as 'more than a challenge'. But she always was tough, and never once complained. After Bill's death in 1996, Bunny was only 55 and remained active. She worked for quite a few years as a home assistant, with the Chang and Ripley families, which she truly enjoyed. She also did a short time with Presbyterian Home Care. She worked side jobs, including daycare for her grandsons, Greg and Matt, and the St. Therese bingo and also at the casino for several years. Feeling secure with her finances, she decided to retire in 2004 at the age of 62. Her mom was already living with her due to health issues.

In August 2003, when Jeremy was born Bunny's world flipped. So when she retired, she had time to spend with her mom and her 'baby' and enjoyed every minute. Bunny and Jeremy spent huge amounts of time together, movies, going for rides, for ice cream, ambulance chasing, and just having fun. As time went on, she still asked 'he's mine, right?', and we always answered, yes.

Even in her retirement, she was busy caring for, or assisting with several family members in poor health. She was constantly following up and going above and beyond to bring comfort to not only her mother, aunts and uncles, friends and anyone she could.

Bunny was a nut for yard sales, and as she would say it, she was Incredibly Cheap (because frugal didn't quite cover it). On more than one occasion we would be hauling back some gadget, cookie jar, tool or pry bar, etc. from some yard sale in Iowa or some other state. Sometimes these "finds" were for her, and sometimes these were for a friend or family member.

When there was a party, her many friends will attest to needing to chase her out of their kitchen because she was doing dishes and staying till the end to clean up. Again, such a fine example (to her kids) of selfless giving.

Bunny was such a great encourager to her children, and she created three very friendly, honest and hardworking families in them. Another skill she had as a mother, was sharing her love of music--mostly rock music. She would listen to country and some pop or Top40 but she mostly would be cranking the rock music at 6:30am every day (after our dad went to work) to get us ready for school. Near the end of her life, when we would 'go for a ride' it was lots of 70s, 80s or 90s music where, even in her diminished state, she would remember and happily say "I love this song". Bunny was able to go to lots of concerts in her younger life, she saw Elvis twice plus lots of 60s, 70s rock concerts where often Fefa would tag along (including Huey Lewis in the '80s). She definitely loved Her music. At the end, her Rock music was played 24 hours a day. She loved Ozzy and it was very fitting that when the end came Ozzy's 'Mama I'm coming Home' was playing.

The family is most grateful for the excellent care provided by the Home Hospice Team of Presbyterian Senior Plan, as they were Excellent: Nurse Denise M. and CNA Kristen H. and the rest of the team…your care and expertise in mom's last few weeks is deeply appreciated and we couldn't have hoped for better care.

Bunny's/our dear friends Nita and Al and Monica Villescas and Darlene Paschcal were an amazing support during these last few years. Everyone who called, visited, shared a Coke (Bunny's favorite) or shared a meal or ice cream, or took her for a ride or to eat, Thank you! Bunny loved you all!

We can honor Bunny's memory by continuing her Christian example in our everyday lives. I've heard the saying 'bloom where you're planted' and I can think of no better example than Bunny's life as a loving daughter, sister, niece, wife, mother, grandmother, and friend to everyone around her. May she rest in Peace.

A Rosary will be recited at 10:00 am on Saturday May 23, 2026 in the chapel of Direct Funeral Services at 2919 4th St NW, Albuquerque, NM 87107.  Everyone is invited to a reception at Bunny's house (text Sydney for directions, 505-363-8354), immediately following the Rosary service. The family will conclude Bunny's interment next to Bill at a later date, at the National Cemetery in Santa Fe.