Kenneth Mark Chávez Sr.

Kenneth Mark Chávez Sr. passed away peacefully at home on April 30th, 2025. He was born in Albuquerque, New Mexico, on September 12th, 1959, to James and Bessie Chavez.

He was preceded in death by his father James, mother Bessie, sons Kenny and Michael, brother Randy, and sister Susan. He is survived by his loving wife of 27 years, Marian Chávez; his daughters Jessica Chávez and her spouse Joshua Rochelle, Ashley Readmond and her husband Christian; his beloved grandchildren Jacob, Jordan, Ruth, Ariyah, Azriel, and Naomi; his sister Cynthia Candelaria; his brother Adam Chávez and his wife Maria; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Ken grew up in the Wells Park area, living on 11th Street before moving with his family to 8th Street. He attended St. Mary’s Catholic School from 1st through 8th grade and went on to St. Pius for high school. He later earned his GED when his first son Kenny was born—a testament to his dedication and resilience.

He worked as a stock boy at Food Master's before beginning a 30-year career with General Electric, where he eventually retired. Ken loved coaching basketball for his daughter Jessica at San Felipe and continued coaching with Bernalillo County Parks and Recreation. He also enjoyed playing basketball in the GE league, with games held at Dennis Chavez.

Ken had a deep love for hosting Thanksgiving each year and cooking meals for everyone to enjoy. A cherished tradition was watching Kenny dress up as Santa Claus, bringing joy to the community, hotels, the Tanoan neighborhood, and private family gatherings.

He enjoyed traveling—especially to Seattle and Hawaii for his 25th anniversary—and even had a memorable run-in with family during March Madness in Las Vegas. On sunny days, Ken could often be found riding his Harley with his wife by his side.

Ken’s hobbies included collecting model cars, coins, currency, and steins. He had a soft spot for his ’57 Chevy hardtop and always enjoyed grilling and cooking for parties and holidays. He had a strong personality—people sought his advice because he was honest and never sugarcoated the truth. His sense of humor and contagious laughter made everyone feel comfortable and happy.

Despite life’s challenges, Ken remained positive and never complained. He deeply loved his family and grandchildren. He started each morning with a newspaper and always read the obituaries—he’d be wondering where his is now. A master of crossword puzzles, he proudly had a tattoo in the form of a crossword featuring his grandkids’ names, whether they were in touch or not.

Ken also loved Bugs Bunny and, though it took some convincing, he eventually welcomed a dog into his life—Brutus—who became his best friend to the very end.

He was exceptionally organized and had beautiful penmanship. Ken was a loving and passionate husband, father, brother, grandfather, and friend. He was an avid sports fan, especially of the Lobos, and he shared his gifts generously with everyone he knew. He fought his illness valiantly and will be missed beyond measure.

A viewing will be held at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, located at 619 Copper Ave NW, Albuquerque, NM 87102, at 8:30 am on May 8, 2025, followed by a praying of the rosary at 9:00 am, and Mass of a Christian Burial at 9:30 am. Burial will follow services at Mount Calvary Cemetery, located at 1900 Edith Blvd NE, Albuquerque, NM 87102, at 11:00 am. 

Pallbearers:

Joshua Rochelle

Christian Readmond

Isaac Candelaria

Estephan Candelaria

James Chávez

Benny Chávez

Honorary Pallbearers:

Jessica Chávez

Ashley Readmond

Raymond Lopez

Amber Lopez

Jacob Rochelle

Jordan Rochelle

Ruth Readmond