Eva Bongiorno

Eva Bongiorno went to be with the Lord on March 27, 2026. Eva was born in Brooklyn, New York, the daughter of a hardworking Italian immigrant father and a mother who was a dedicated homemaker and loving mom. Their strength, sacrifice, and quiet resilience shaped Eva’s spirit long before she understood their weight. Eva was proud of her Italian heritage, her Catholic faith, and above all, her family.

By just 25, life had handed her both the joy of motherhood and the heartbreak of widowhood. Suddenly alone with two young children depending on her, Eva refused to let grief define their future. Her love for them became her anchor and her fuel. She pushed forward, determined to build a life where her children would feel secure, supported, and never know the ache of going without. She poured her heart into raising her children as a single mom, and years later, met Andrew a fellow hardworking Italian immigrant whose quiet strength matched her own, and married him.

Eva and Andrew moved across the country from New York to New Mexico. Andrew built his ironwork business in a vastly underdeveloped town in the middle of the desert. They struggled for many years, but their work ethic, resilience, and love for blue skies, warm weather, and their family kept them focused and grounded. They built their life together as they built their business, and welcomed a daughter, completing their family of five.

Eva had a curiosity for the southwest long before her move to New Mexico. In school, she became captivated by the culture and history of this desert landscape, so vastly different from the bustling city she called home. Eva had an adventurous spirit and loved to travel, shop, dance, attend social events, and lunch with her friends. She loved dancing with her daughter Michele, slow dancing with her husband, attending theater with her daughter Andrea, and bantering with her son Pat. She shared a special bond with every member of her family and each of her friends. Her vibrant personality and radiant smile were perfectly matched by her colorful outfits and playful sense of humor. Her kindness and cheerful disposition left a lasting impression on everyone she met, even in the briefest encounters.

Eva worked in human resources and was remarkably resourceful, but more than anything, she brought the humanity to human resources. She loved her work, and the wonderful friends and new faces she welcomed into the company each day. Eva was a wonderful cook; she made traditional Italian recipes like eggplant parmigiana, stuffed artichokes, struffoli, and broccoli rabe. Gathering in the kitchen with family meant everything to her, as did a perfectly trimmed Christmas tree, a beautifully decorated home, and a well-accessorized outfit.

Eva was smart, quick-witted, and exceptionally generous. She always put her family’s needs before her own. She taught her children and grandchildren tough love with the nurturing, loving care only a mom could provide. She was a deeply affectionate mother and grandmother, the kind who made everyone around her feel safe and cherished. Her warmth wrapped around her children like a constant embrace.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Sabato and Filomena, her husband Andrew, and her first husband Michael. She is survived by her children, Pat (Denise), Michele (Sal), and Andrea (Jeff). Her grandchildren are Jeneva, Andrew, Carlo, Michael, Andre, Jeffrey, Lauren, Colin, and Lillie.

Eva’s great-grandchildren include Eva, Anthony, Liliana, Lucca, and Lorenzo, with two more on the way.

She will forever live on in our hearts, memories, and in the way we strive to honor the remarkable person she was.