In 1531 Our Lady of Guadalupe appeared to San Juan Diego at Tepeyac. Since then many Catholics look to our Merciful Mother for love, compassion, intercession and protection.

Thee and Dorothy Keros were parishioners at Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe in Peña Blanca, New Mexico from 1955 to 2005. They had a positive and long lasting impact on the community. Dorothy attended Loretto Academy and attended church daily. She was involved with the church, loved to read novels and loved Peña Blanca. She visited Tent Rocks often and watched as Cochiti lake and the dam were built.

Thee was raised on a farm in Colorado. He was educated in Santa Fe and worked in the banking business. After Thee retired as Vice President from the First National Bank in Santa Fe, he was drawn and desired to get back to the dirt. They moved to Peña Blanca where they owned a home and a twelve acre ranch, and became a cornerstone of the community.

Thee served on the water board, was a volunteer fireman, and assisted many families in the pueblos. He would jokingly refer to his life as a rancher as ‘money in the bank and cattle on the ranch’ that included ‘two horses and one steer’. He planted alfalfa, helped cut alfalfa and went on community round-ups to help other families bring in their cattle for the winter. Thee loved to garden and had the most beautiful and fragrant flowers and lilac bushes that graced the Keros’ home.

Summers were filled with children and later with grandchildren working in the garden, riding the horses, enjoying candy that Thee always had handy. Thee and Dorothy were deeply connected to the community and were revered by everyone they met. Dorothy passed away in 1996. Thee continued to live in Peña Blanca until 2005. At his 90th birthday party, community members from Santo Domingo Pueblo spoke about his kindness, his trust and belief in them and his willingness to help them. On May 22, 2014 Thee passed away peacefully in Santa Fe at the age of 101 years.

He was preceded in death by his wife Dorothy and his two daughters, Barbara Patterson and Katherine Hertz. He is survived by his “other daughter” Pat Assimakis, his grandsons Jeffrey and wife Lisa, Mark and wife Heather, Ken and wife Monica, and his great-grandchildren.

Thee and Dorothy Keros left a legacy that is fondly remembered by many members of the parish community to this day. The Keros family continues to give to the community. Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe Tepeyac Prayer Garden has been created in memory of Thee and Dorothy Keros by the Keros Family. The dedication of the garden was held on December 11, 2017 at 7:00pm just before the Vespers of Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe located at 816 Hwy 22 in Peña Blanca just north of Keros Road.

Article By Rachel Sandoval