Yvonne Ruthina Cruz Marquez

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Our beautiful, kind and gentle mother passed from this life on March 14, 2020. Although she fought so hard to stay, we take comfort in knowing she is no longer suffering and she has been reunited with her three children.

Yvonne was born on August 9, 1937 in Chama, New Mexico to Conrado Cruz and Margaret Abeyta Cruz. She graduated from Ignacio High School. She married Victor P. Marquez and together they had six children; although they later divorced, they remained friends.  

Yvonne enjoyed many years working at Salt Lake Community Action Program as a social worker. She developed long-lasting friendships with many of her co-workers and loved helping people that were less fortunate and would give her last dollar, or provide a meal to anyone in need. Yvonne’s greatest joy was spending time with family and friends, and spoiling them with her famous homemade green chile and tortillas. 

Yvonne was an active lifelong member of Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Magna. She sang in the Spanish choir, served on the spaghetti dinner committee, and led church beautification efforts, along with many other ministries. 

Yvonne is survived by her children Paul, Mary and Roland; her siblings David Cruz, Sophie Romero and Kathy McCoy; 15 grandchildren and 29 great-grandchildren; and extended family members and friends too numerous to mention. She was preceded in death by her parents, daughter Margie Guerrero, sons Victor and Conrad Marquez, sister Diane Gonzales, and brothers-in-law Luciano Gonzales and Gilbert Romero.

A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated March 21 at Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church.

There are no words to express the loss and emptiness we feel in losing the matriarch of our family. She was the most selfless, loving and caring mother and she was the glue that kept our family together. We will forever feel a void in our lives and look forward to our reunion in heaven when our family will be reunited once again.

Rest in peace, our sweet mama. 

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to our mother’s beloved parish, Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church’s building fund.