Date of death: 5/4/2011
Saint Meinrad Class: O 1982
Fr. Sanchez, age 55, was a 1974 graduate of Belen High School and attended Immaculate Heart of Mary Seminary in Santa Fe receiving his bachelor’s degree from the College of Santa Fe in May 1978. Fr. Steve then completed four years of graduate studies in theology at St. Meinrad Seminary in Indiana earning a Masters of Divinity Degree in May of 1982. He was ordained to the Priesthood in Santa Fe, on May 29, 1982 at the Basilica of St. Francis by Archbishop Robert Forture Sanchez.He has served at San Felipe de Neri in Albuquerque, San Miguel in Socorro, St. Mary’s in Vaughn, Holy Child in Tijeras, Our Lady of Guadalupe in Santa Fe, Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Moriarty, St. John the Baptist in San Juan Pueblo, Queen of Heaven in Albuquerque, and presently at Our Lady of Fatima in Albuquerque. He has served as Chaplain at Presbyterian Hospital and Lovelace Downtown for the last 14 years. He was preceded in death by his father, Milton B. Sanchez; paternal grandparents, Ventura and Mauelita Baca Sanchez; and maternal grandparents, Juan S. and Fidelina Chavez Garcia. Fr. Stephen is survived by his loving mother, Lupe Garcia Sanchez; two brothers, Patrick Sanchez and wife, Eva of Seattle Washington and Matthew Sanchez and wife, Chun Chen of Albuquerque; one sister, Kathleen Overstreet and husband, Ernest of Albuquerque; uncle, Bences Sanchez; aunts, Flora Sanchez, Christina Contreras, and Victoria Dow; four nephews, Bryan, John, and Jessie Sanchez, and Phillip Overstreet; four nieces, Andrea Settle, Katie and Cassie Sanchez, and Lauren Overstreet; three great-grand nieces and one great-grand nephew. Information obtained from Romero Funeral Home online, www.romerofuneralhomenm.com