Jane Mulvihill

Jane Mulvihill On April 29, 2017 Bobbi Jane Mulvihill joined with her mother, Juanita, father, Bill and brother Willie in an eternal embrace with the angels, the saints and our heavenly Father. She lived in Organ, New Mexico where she died peacefully at home. She is survived by her son Robert Smith (Raeven), daughter Stephanie Canas (Michael), son Michael Smith (Mary); grandchildren Katlin Ohle, Christopher Canas, Dakota Smith, Christopher Fleenor, and Michael Smith, Jr. Siblings, Joseph Ed Misquez (Kathryn), Jean Sims (Dan), Pat Degman (Tom), Elizabeth Ororke (Paul), and Martha Martinez-Mulvihill (Ed). She was born on May 18, 1950 in Las Cruces, New Mexico, and grew up in Roswell, New Mexico where she attended St. Peter Catholic middle school, and graduated from Roswell High in 1968. She began her career as a nurse after receiving her associate degree in nursing (RN) from Eastern New Mexico University/Roswell (ENMU/R) campus in 1973. Although in the 1960's Roswell was a booming town where the large Walker Air Force Base and its huge contingent of B-52's was located, she struggled to find work. Working as a carhop at the local A&W drive-in was hard work with low pay and few tips. As a teenager volunteering as a Candy Striper at St. Mary's Hospital in Roswell, her interest in nursing had been peeked and by now she knew carhopping was not for her. So she applied for and was accepted into the nursing program at ENMU/R. Jane was uniquely scrappy which served her well throughout her time as a nurse many times speaking the truth to power. There was no beating about the bush with her, especially with family members. Indeed, this was a strength that served her well after her mother died because she then took on the role of family Matriarch. She knew everything that was going on family-wise and used her skills and knowledge to help family members. She would stop at nothing to come to the aid of her children or her siblings. She was generous to a fault sometimes even going into debt to help a loved one. But she always had that great big smile that brightened up all that experienced it. She became scrappy from the time growing up on Lewis Street in Roswell while riding her bike, falling onto the pavement breaking her two front teeth to the time, punctuated by her awe-inspiring disregard for the rules, riding the bumper of a friend's car, she fell off hitting her head on the concrete. The unruly teens who drove up for drinks toughened her for work later on. She retired after 40 years of nursing using many of her skills and talents. She began her career in Carlsbad, moving on to Eastern NM Hospital in Roswell, NM Rehab in Roswell, 28 years at Memorial General/Memorial Medical Center (MG/MMC) and finishing her career at White Sands Missile Range. To the end, when able, she continued to love to ride her bike, teach new tricks to her rescue dog, Springer, and work her home which she was always refurbishing in one way or another. Among her awards were the Post-anesthesia Care Unit (recovery room) MMC 1992; Department of Army Achievement Medal for Civilian Service; five 5-year pins from MG/MMC. She was also spending volunteer time gardening after she earned her Master Gardener Certificate and was an active donor of the Heifer Program ( www.heifer.org ). Visitation and viewing at Getz Funeral Home in Las Cruces at 1410 East Bowman Avenue will be Friday, May 5 from 4pm to 7pm. On Saturday May 6, 2017, at 1:00pm Rosary will be recited at Immaculate Heart of Mary Cathedral, at 1240 South Espina; Word Service with Communion following, Deacon Ed Misquez officiating. PDF Printable Version