Helen Anaya Dow

Helen Anaya Dow entered into eternal peace on August 29, 2024 at age 94. She is survived by her adult children: Donna & Clarence Garcia, Ricardo & Joyous Dow, Harold & Jill Dow, Janice & Ron Blasing, Shirley & Jim Thompson, Evelyn Dow, and Aaron & Karla Dow. As well as 77 grand, great and great-great grandchildren, plus countless nieces and nephews. Helen is preceded in death by her beloved son, Anthony ‘Tony’ Dow, her parents Andres and Mary Anaya of Tijeras, NM, and all of her many brothers and sisters. Their heavenly reunion will be large!

 Helen was born in 1929 in Juan Tomas, NM and worked hard her entire life. As a child she worked at the family farm in Tijeras to help her parents and as a teen she worked at Creamland Dairy. She married Leo Dow in 1948, raised 8 children (4 girls, 4 boys), and was ultimately blessed with five living generations! Helen maintained a very busy life raising a family, maintaining a home with acreage and animals, helping the church and schools, supporting sporting events, club activities, political campaigns and running family businesses. In the 1950’s, Leo and Helen owned a grocery store in Martineztown, two liquor stores in the 60’s, and built a restaurant and lounge in Albuquerque’s North Valley in the 70’s (Leonardo’s). Helen continued to work at the business even after their divorce. She enjoyed serving on the church choir and as a eucharistic minister, volunteering with Alameda Lion’s Club, caring for grandchildren, playing golf landing a hole-in-one at Ladera, and artistic oil painting.

 Pallbearers include: Brenda Anaya, Teresa Dow, Genaro Padilla, Adessa Shaddix, Christopher Simpson and Brian Valdez.

 The Dow family would like to extend sincere gratitude to caregivers that took gentle care of Helen for many years especially Virginia Harbour Reynolds as well as Rose Martinez and Sophia Sanchez, plus countless friends, relatives, and colleagues for their help and support in difficult times. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation In Honor/In Memoriam of Helen Anaya Dow, to NM Association for Home & Hospice Care. https://nmahhc.memberclicks.net/index.php?option=com_mcform&view=ngforms&id=2051013#!/